The Manipulator Poem by Sara Militello

The Manipulator

There was a time I failed to see
some things now clear to me;
to know the score
in time to see moves that vary
not a pore.
Keeping one's own counsel, never sharing a doubt
lovers get hooked from the dot and to their core
‘cause doing their best to keep the floor
every trick from beginning to when they stay
is used by the manipulator to get his way.
Quicker than the eye can see
are wedges built between friends and would-be;
courting two instead of one,
or more in place of none,
to bloom brazenly wanton as time goes by,
with skin much too thin for naught but discomfort
about every tiny thing said or done
by every other loving one,
lovers will try harder yet to keep the peace
that the early joy prevail.
But should a friend dare venture near
their chosen dear
the manipulator's manner descends cold as icy surf
nudging the lover from familiar turf
to keep those blocks in place;
a mood-set that isolates twice
until nothing's left of love's delightful spice.

November 7,1990