SO WIDE OPEN

Oh.
Oh, god.
Please don’t.
Don’t do that
Leaving that door so wide open.
If you ask me why I hate you,
you may expect me to deny it
but
if that IS your expectation,
expect to be disappointed.

If you ask,
I will answer.
If you request information,
even falsely,
I will respond.

I hate you for your sense of entitlement.
I hate you when you flirt at work.
I hate how different you are with different people
and the you who
I too often find
in my presence.

Don’t look so shocked:
You asked for this
when you asked me of my hate
right after I didn’t deliver
the right kind of wine
for a dinner party
you’d invited me to
moments before.

Why do I hate you?
Because you’re short.
Why do I hate you?
Because you’re mean.
Why do I hate you?
Because you’re false
– like when you ask me
why I hate you
when you don’t think I do.
I HATE that
and hate you
– but love the chance you’ve offered
me now
so thank you.