Other ways of pleasing you

Our food sits quietly
like good kindergarten children
organised in perfect little rows

I know you can't eat it
Not now
not yet
until we have the argument we always had

whenever I open my wallet
and mouth
to dole out my gentleman's explanation
that you constantly claim
insulted your dignity and pride

I'm not the perfect lady
so there is no need to play
the gentleman,
you would dismiss

I could embrace you beyond
this meal's enternity
and weigh you down my bed
for all the youth you collect between our distance
in this conversation like saying grace before a meal

I spin an excuse and tell you
I pay for the boys on the team too

You would hiss
that you do not play soccer
and you are not one of my soccer boys

It is at this very moment
the sun in your eyes go to the gallows
and the noose tightens around the conversation

We lapse into conflicting silence
and I try my hardest to smile

As if by your merciful intervention, you say
'We'd go dutch'

Deciding to pay you back in your own coin
with each word designed
to lodge into savagely into you,
I mention that we were conquered by the Dutch
and your suggested mode of payment
was really uncalled for

For a moment
I take delight in watching
confusion cross the map of features
on your tiny face
Your eyes clearing the hazy clouds of history,
and I would hear your thoughts transparent in speech,
in time to come

Instead you laugh

And finally
the sun in your eyes rises again

Still you push money in my direction
And I tell you
I'm only accepting it to please you
And I didnt tell you
I wish there were other ways of pleasing you