why is it that nice guys are never really all that nice?

it is a façade to get what they want

and what if what they want is you?

what angle may they choose

to construct the perfect view

persuade and misconstrue

mistaking niceties for currency

how much has it bought?

maybe just a ride home or

so she thought

nice guys have a way of disarming alarm bells

hiding ulterior motives behind unassuming smiles

suddenly turning the sweetness sickly vile

without even the decency of a heads up

no warning signs or indicators of lust

just a ploy and a plan and

some small grant of circumstance

to land pocket queens

slid up under shiny sleeves

let’s just make out

what he means to say really

let me force you down on me

present myself as a perfect specimen of masculinity

without even so much as a piss poor attempt at consent

the saddest reality of all

at the final curtain call

why me asks she

it feels almost as though I have the word whore stapled to my forehead

making me question the energy I give off

somehow maybe I am all at fault

like I was the one propositioning in a darkened parking lot

what exactly is the difference between concession and coercion?

what about every time she decides to go silent and sit idly by

closing tightly her eyes

through gritted teeth & muffled cries

when you said we should hang out

how could I know you meant it so literally

somehow she is always the one to blame

in this sick and twisted game

do not want that kind of fame

causing flames to eat away at her brain

all is fair in love and war

but what are we even fighting for?

just to get him to walk her to the door

but not push himself inside

is it not too much to ask for a date

without the type-cast blasé cat and mouse cosplay

nor picturesque male gaze

only so nice until the desired outcome falls through

show me what those lips can really do

not

tell me more about you

show me what those lips can really do

you seem like the kind to be a secret freak

maybe a secret from you

show me what those lips can really do

how is it that outright resistance is dismissed as often as not

as coy playful petulance indicative of

thinly veiled ethical vigilance

only a part all women play to avoid the scarlet branding

when really it is borderline flattery to mutter inappropriately

show me what those lips can really do

it’s the arrogance for me

blatant disregard of autonomy

it must be so nice to be king

to never question for one second

conviction or certainty

nevermind detect any hint of hesitancy

of course I must have forgot

consent is open for interpretation nowadays

yes means yes and no means maybe

either a prude or a bitch

a saint or a witch

a virgin or a whore

no one bothering to implore

or even dare try to explore

how we are hunted like prey targeted tagged and claimed

without any acceptable say in what we wish to give away

because every interaction of lackluster substance

half-baked compliments

insincere lending of ear

demonstrations of hesitant generosity

holding of tongue behind fabricated delicately decorated masks

is ticked up and counted

earmarked & bound with a promise

thrown expectantly

and when no return on investment is attained

suddenly basic common courtesy is reduced to a chore

extra work he begrudgingly went unpaid for

so maybe it is for good reason alas that

nice guys always finish last