Rebuffed

On a date once

in my drinking days
a second date

with someone I had known

for a number of years

towards the end

I floated the idea

of a third

and she said

"I like you,

right now you're very sweet,

but you have a temper."

never before

had I been so simply

and honestly rejected

I was incensed

went home

railed against her

to my friends

for her callousness and judgement

and held a grudge

but the truth is

I was upset

because she had seen me

summed me up

with a startling efficiency

and respectfully declined.