Sweetheart

This morning

you looked like the cat in the cream

delight and defensiveness

that your pleasure might be taken away

mixed in equal measure. 

I find it impossible to believe

that you aren’t a terrible flirt

even in uncomfortable circumstances

like in the dental chair 

I’ve known people like you before 

I’ve been that person before

watching the turkey on the table

for a chance to snatch

when no one is watching

and then make a face

of sweet innocence. 

Charisma is like a knife

made of black ice

it comes out of nowhere

and melts away as soon as 

you make eye contact 

or recognize it for what it is 

call me a radical

but I’ve taken to carrying salt 

in all of my pockets.

Today I’ll be 

arming myself with all the weapons

practicing the twinkle in my eye

and working the almost dimple

until I can pull it out on demand 

because my desire to win

all of the games, all of the time

is unabating.