i want you to meet joyce

your friend wants you to meet joyce.
but you don't want to meet
joyce. you are tired of women.
of love and affection,
of pain and distraction. but,
he says, she loves all the things
that you do. books, and movies,
poetry and art. she has red hair.
cake? you say, does she love cake?
can she bake me a cake and jump
out of it in her skimpy underwear.
if she can do that, I'll meet her,
otherwise, I don't want to meet joyce.
i'll ask her, he says. i'll see
what she says and get back to you.
do that and let me know.