Nice

---"You're so nice.
You're not good, you're not bad, you're just nice.
I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right,
I'm the witch, you're the world."
- James Lapine, from ' Into the Woods'


You stopped wearing my favorite outfit
I noticed.
You say, "I thought it was too seductive,
I thought I was being nice."
I sneer and wring my hands anxiously,
feeling silly and sad.

I talk about my discomfort.
I wiggle in my seat, wishing
I'd worn my oversized overalls,
hidden my body from you. Always
hiding, it's what I do and you say,
"But you wanted to take me dancing!
I thought I was being nice!"
I look out the window and pretend
I am the red-breasted pelican,
or maybe a man.