she picked you from a line-up
you were unaware of
after hours of watching you
talk with your hands and laugh
whole-heartedly

you were loud and witty and
when you spoke people listened
with half-smiles on their faces
because they knew every story
would end with a punchline

you were a relentless drinker
without even blinking
a shot,
a bourbon and coke,
a beer gone
in a few swallows but you never
slurred your words and your
eyes only grew brighter

you were beautiful and dangerous
and all of those things mothers warn
about but when someone spoke to
you you looked at them like you were
really listening, appropriate nods,
understanding and laughing when
necessary

you never took your eyes
off of them even though your worldly
demeanor gave off the impression that
you've heard it all before

you made her nervous and anxious
and she was more careful than usual
drinking a little faster feeling a little
outshined but intrigued nonetheless
by this new found stranger and
she wondered where you came from

but she could tell right away that
you were a man's man and more
than likely had a girlfriend waiting
at home yet she still watched those
hands with the longest fingers she'd
ever seen and the way the thickness
of your neck gave away the size of
everything

and when you stood to get another
you were so very tall and when you
walked to the fridge there was power
in your stride you were the kind of guy
a girl wants to take outside and try to
keep forever

but she could count the number of
glances you gave to her on one hand
and still have fingers left and knew you
weren't looking for another one night
stand or anything else

just a night with the guys and booze
and cards and that made you all the
more enthralling made you everything
you are and she relaxed sat back and
smiled to herself you were better left
untouched and she moved on
to someone else.

02/28/2008

Posted on 02/29/2008
Copyright © 2025 Olivia Weinkein