My Personality

I asked her about my personality

after she smiled and tilted her head 

a little toward me while we watched 

the guy in the film colonize each inch 

of the ballroom at the figurative nightly gala in his honor

where he bullies every sign of life 

who feigns adoration as he muscles them all

into compliance to seem less 

like consenting adults than zealots.

Such backslapping feeds the frenzy sucks

its victims into believing they can one day become

as mainstage as the star who gifts and takes away

while they all live unhappily

beholden.

She said I’m sorry I hurt  your feelings.

I don’t strike myself as someone who needs 

to be in charge. It’s just easier on everyone

when I run things.

I first heard the term “work a room”

from a corrupt man who happened to declare

that no one could work a room

the way I could. I had no idea

I was doing anything excerpt letting people know

how glad I was to meet them.

If I can see this, does it mean I am not like this?