Good Manners

I was raised to be a gentleman in an old movie

To open doors for people, and offer them

drinks and charming conversation

About what I has just been reading

To remember my companions interests

And to be gracious about everything

In the wake of my my mother's death I kept busy

As if by working all day and then going right to bed

I could somehow be too occupied and well rested to be sad

and have no time to cry

I would say to my girlfriend

I'm sorry, I'm just tired, I’m sorry

When I got cranky before we went to sleep

And sometimes wept for no particular reason

Except that my mother had died

my mother was dead

and I was raised to make excuses