at what age
can one slip on the shufflers
sleeve on a robe
step through the front door
and pick up the paper?
I’ve seen them
in their coffee-stained comfort
bent-haired halo
and could-care-less fashion
wander onto the driveway
having already made the decision
to make outside the house
as comfortable as
the kitchen table
or bathroom mirror
this morning I took a chance
the neighbor's cat did stare
as it walked by but I shot back
an even fiercer glare
and maybe that’s good
to test embarrassment
in increments