no more little don rickles

you have to be careful

these days

with your words.

you can't call anyone

fatso anymore,

or string bean,

or tubby, or even big boned.

you can't

point at someone and say

look at that scarecrow

over there.

that rack of ribs.

you can't say i smell

a hint of mint,

or that fellow is light

in the loafers.

no one teases each other

anymore.

how do little 

wise cracking kids survive

in this world

with such

restrictions.

they're cancelled before

they're out

of the first grade.