It's just poetry, it won't bite

Nina


12.14.17 Posted in today's words by

Maalik Howard’s most recent poem to appear here was “Jay Z Negotiating Tidal Deal, 2017” (November 2017).

Nina
By Maalik Howard

Spasibo,
She laughed and grinned with a radiance that dug out my inner child’s smile
And told me that I had forever ruined the word thank you for her.
When she told me how to pronounce it,
My voice spoke of what sounded like the words “spicy butt,”
How embarrassing,
But that is what it sounded like,
Mark off “first inside joke” on the checklist of our newly found friendship.

Poka,
Bye.
The one word she implied as I nervously approached her to talk weeks prior.
The actual expression was, Sorry, I have Boyfriend…as saliently rehearsed.
She is beautiful, so yes my intentions warranted such an expression from her,
But she did not expect my response,
Not that I approved of her subtle rejection, but my follow up question about her culture.
I was genuinely interested in knowing, and her pass experiences enabled her to read people well enough to recognize my sincerity.

She wore a shield comprised of toughness and distrust,
Most likely the remains from the protection she needed while living in the crossfire of the Russian-Georgian War.
I say remains because I could see parts of her actual self.
I viewed glimpses of nurturing kindness that she reluctantly revealed
And flashes of a playful, joyous personality—
Although immediately following that subtle display she would assertively reiterate how mannerless American men are.

I take meeting someone like her as a lesson.
She taught me in one conversation,
And inspired me in two.

Now, However,
It seems as if she is beginning to remove her shield, realizing that I am no threat.
Her unraveled affection forces a natural smile of me,
And an involuntary stare of delighted bewilderment of who she really is.

I am glad that she has removed her shield,
But,
I do not think she knows that I am wearing one of my own.



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