Benedict never
hit a woman
but he came close
when Netanya

threw a cup
at his leg
during an argument
and it felt

as if she'd
cracked a bone
and he rose up at her
and stood almost

in mid air
and stared at her
knowing that
had it been a guy

he would have
decked him
with a right
but it was she

who stood there
in her 5'3' height
and he fumed
through his nose

and walked away
and said
if you hadn't
been a woman

I'd have put you down
and she said
didn't mean
to throw it

at your leg
I meant it
for your HEAD
and that was it

he went into the garden
to cool down
and she lit up
a cigarette

in the kitchen
and inhaled death
into her lungs  
he lit up

and inhaled
what he could
of calming juice
and after they'd

cooled down
she came out
in the garden
where he was sitting

in an old deckchair
and she kissed his head
and said
if you'd been a woman

I'd not have kissed you
like that
and he said
if you'd not been a woman

but a kissing guy
I'd have knocked you
in the eye
and she smiled

and walked away
and that was it
for another day.