Tipping Point

[everyadventure]

That teenaged waiter called me "ma'am!"
I age instantly, suddenly too old for Roller Derby,
cussing, and Good Charlotte.

Should I dare enter the mall shop that hustles
glitter gloss and offers free studs with piercings,
I would be promptly evicted.

My husband pats my hand reassuringly:
"He didn't mean anything by it.
He's too young to know better."

But I'm holding this pimpled kid responsible:
thanks to him, I'm now a "ma'am!"
I cannot go toilet papering,
make prank calls,
sneak into the movies,
or out of the house!

Instead, I will sit in my rocker, knitting and listening
to stifled giggles erupting in the yard,
as glorious streams of paper unfurl in my trees
because I refused to tip.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Love the light tone that doesn't quite disguise the chagrin! And the revelation that you didn't tip that young pup is just the right closing note.

[Delta40]

I think this is one of your best. the tipping point from being young to old is obscure until somebody points it out. My daughters friends call me Mrs and I remind them of their mother.....any sexuality or vibrancy I might have felt pretty much goes out the window at that point but you put it beautifully in this piece EA. Well done.

[Hawkman]

Loved the poem, ea, and the title, but I just don't get;

"as glorious streams of paper unfurl in my trees"

probably my failing, not yours though.

Live and be well - H

[Buh4Bee]

EA, this is a fun poem that so many of us "vain" women can relate too.

[Jerrybaldy]

29 and a bit does not qualify. So there :P