I dare you
To speak those words
Where I can see your eyes,
Where I can watch them glint
In whatever color
They turn out to be.

Tell me that
When I can watch you flicker,
Quivering,
Like a damaged movie.

Black,
White,
A camera, with the flash on:
Ouch! I blinked.

But that’s all that happened.
Ouch. I blinked.
You won’t get a bite-back,
An irate reply,
Snapped tightly like a twig
Between my firm teeth.

You might get a smile,
Or a cheery false response.
Lucky you,
Because I bet you don’t get that many
Talking to people the way you do:

Condescendingly snooty,
That smirk of acrid contempt
Will never get you past high school

She pressed ‘send’
All insensitive,
Thinking I would break,
And with backlash,
I’d start a war.

Nope.

I dare you
To speak those words
Where I can see your eyes,
And you can see mine,
So I can show you
Exactly how much
I care.