I used to know

I used to know But not so much anymore Hold the door Don’t hold the door Say “Good Morning” Or say nothing Lest I commit A micro-aggression I used to think outside the box I can’t any longer They have taken all the boxes And made signs out of them Covid may be over Yet the masks remain Implacably etched On dour faces Ever fearful of a smile I always treated puppies As if they were kids Y’know, cleaned up after them Let them run through mud puddles Chase rabbits and butterflies Pee outside Eat popcorn while watching a movie The cat…well If you’ve ever had a cat You know…