no spring chicken

be careful, she says,
as you tie your shoes
to go for a run.
it's cold out and
windy, wear your
windbreaker and gloves.
you're no spring
chicken, she says,
handing you a scarf
and some ear muffs.
I'd appreciate it
if you didn't
compare me to farm
yard poultry, you
tell her, shaking
your head no, to
the gloves, the scarf,
the earmuffs.
we'll it's true, she
says. you aren't
a spring chicken.
do I have feathers,
do I have a beak,
and go clucking around,
pecking at the dirt?
someone's a little
grouchy today aren't
they? I just don't
like being called old,
you tell her. okay?
okay, she says, I'm
sorry, see you in about
fifteen minutes or
so. maybe less you
tell her, it's
starting to rain,
hand me that umbrella.