
at the bar. Both are wearing/
black and white striped shirts.
An empty napkin/
is useless, unless it can/
collect snot* or words.
OR
*junk
Come back! ‘Cuz if you/
don’t, at one-half century/
you’ll find you still must.
When I get stood up/
on a date, I can always/
do open mic poems.
STOP!
Don’t apologize!
Sorry?
For what?
You are standing,
SOLO,
spilling your guts,
speaking for yourself,
sharing your mind,
telling truth.
Don’t give away
your power.
Don’t
be sorry.
I’m not.
We’re not.
Because you’re not
sorry.
You are
not.
I called myself the/
“Stu–” word, but the kid said “NO!”/
And you know? He’s right!
What at last gets her/
up? It’s not peer pressure, for/
I am way too old.