Abuse

In the 1970s
The GM steakhouse
Under younger management
Launched an offer promising to
Serve heaping orders of abuse
To customers at a time when
Students ran Lassie the dog
For student President and
Won while they elected
Another student who
Claimed when my
Opponent says
Issue I say
Gesundheit!
So heaping portions
Of abuse was funny then.
My wife and I dined one
Night at the GM but
Unaware of the
Abuse until
Our waiter
Asked me
If I were
The
Bodyguard?
I said no so he
Asked me if I worked
At the Highway Department
And I said, “why yes I do work
At the Highway Department.”
The young man said to me,
“Oh! I am so sorry. I did
Not mean to be rude.
It’s our new policy.”
We laughed and
Told him not to
Worry. All was
Well. Then
I told him
A good
Place
To work
Was the
Highway
Department.
He was young
And not ready to
Ad-lib abuse a
Talent better
Left to his
Elders.
We know
Where it hurts
And where it don’t.
Neither of us
Much cared
For any
Abuse.