I should have walked out with you.
I should have followed you.
I should have introduced myself
assertively
attentively
and offered to buy you many drinks.

I should have invited you
for a weekend of excitement and debauchery
in some unknown state
where neither of us knew anyone
so no one could see our shame
after the filthy things we would do.

I should have shown you some dance moves
or stopped by your house
unannounced
and introduce myself to your parents
or your husband.
I could have taken that chance
to let him know
the new order of things,
how we were meant to be together
and he could be the bigger man
and just bow out gracefully
or we could fight about it
go to blows
or the dozens
and decide who had earned your attention
and gone about it that way.

I should have asked to marry you
before introducing myself.
I should have given you flowers
or bought you a hot dog.
There are so many ways
this evening could have gone
but it didn’t go any of those ways.
It went wrong
because I did what I shouldn’t have
and not what I should.