Hard to Handle

Hard to Handle
(free verse)

My dad said, "Son, there's something wrong,
up there between your ears
where most men have two eyes that blink,
that sometimes see clearly for a while.

"When a young woman screams like a banshee,
won't settle down and play her natural role in life,
something's off; something's screwy
Yet you have her kissing the palms of your hands.

"Why is it, now, just tell the truth for once?
I know you want them smart, cute and coy.
The faster they run, the less attention they pay you,
the more you pine, the harder you fall.

"If you say yes; you get a negative head shake.
If you say 'come,' they want to go.
When you say 'sit down; they stand upright.
It's worse than training a wet-nosed pup.

"You never liked the easy girls
with gentle spirit and manners, well behaved,
who knew the rules and knew how to cook.
You liked them mouthy or strong as hell.

"It's just a curious mystery I'd like to know some day.
For I hope you catch a likely one and make a home,
have a grandbaby or two maybe but
if she's not a handful, you won't know what to do."