I say, after a pause, okay

by Kate LaDew

what you just told me so utterly stupid

I might never recover

and you smile,

my baffled silence an agreement,

so baffled

you take my hand

and I let you

looking down,

wondering

if this is how it begins,

a man's voice

declaring

something

so

dumb,

foolish,

moronic,

brainless,

dopey,

imbecilic,

thickheaded,

senseless,

and confused

all the women

of the world sit,

stunned

unable to say more than okay

and watch as it happens

* * * * *

Kate LaDew is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA in Studio Arts.  Kate resides in Graham, North Carolina, USA with her cats Charlie Chaplin and Janis Joplin.