This Face
rounded the kitchen corner
straight into eyeballs
laser focused on my head
but it felt like they were
all the way up my ass
gave the guy a nod
he just stared
probably zoned out
solving world hunger or something
maybe dreaming
looking somewhere beyond
figured it wasn’t about me
so I sat down across from him
as he was taking a careful bite
of a big floppy slice of pizza
and chewing it slow
like a cow
without blinking
it felt awkward
so I smiled and nodded again
he was stone
except for the sleepy jaw
he was the new handyman
fresh off some petty crime jail time
looking to do better
no judging that
a little standoffish but friendly enough
I had no problem with him
although the conspiratorial giggly girls
claimed he was a serial killer
pretty sure they were joking
so I grabbed a slice
of the communal pizza
casually took a bite
analyzing the walls
but his death ray stare
was searing my brain
pulling me back
like a hot magnet
I felt a little weak
to break the spell I said
how ya doin’
nothing
was he deaf
he just stared at my head
from three feet away
until he stopped mid chew
long enough to say
you have a really calm face
so it’s my looks
my calm face
is that a good thing
or was he offended
or concerned for my welfare
the monotone gave no tell
he seemed hypnotized
BY MY FACE
maybe it was a compliment
should I say thanks
instead I said
what
with disturbing conviction
he repeated
you have a really calm face
it threw me
accused assaulted guilty
and nowhere to hide
to lighten the moment I said
well you know what they say
about guys with calm faces
he just kept chewing
like a cow
studying every pixel
in my mask of calm
with deep steely eyes
set close in a long stubbled head
time interrupted
before he paused to ask
what do they say
too late to run
so I committed and said
they say
you can never trust em’
zero response
guy just stared
chewed like for an eternity
swallowed
stood up
turned
and without another word
walked away
I watched him go
calmly wondering
if this face
could get me killed someday
—C Driver
well you know what they say about guys with calm faces
