The New Norm

by Maher   Sep 18, 2020


I picked it up from the ground as she jogged by;
it fell from the pocket of a hoodie tied around her waist:

"Excuse me ma'am, you dropped your wallet!"

The exclamation managed to make it through her earphones
as she slowed down rather carelessly and turned to face me.
Holding it outstretched as kindly as one could,
I tread toward the scowl that possessed her otherwise pretty face.

"So what, I suppose you want my number now, huh?" She scoffed.

Dumbfounded and confused, I continued closer.
Maybe she misunderstood?

"No ma'am, I just saw it fall from your waist and didn't want it getting stolen,
so I-"

"Oh, so now you're the chivalrous male and everyone else is a thief?"

Taken aback, I stopped to think.

She continued on as passers by seemed to quicken their pace about us.

The louder she grew, the less I heard,
as I strolled back to that unlucky patch of grass where the wallet briefly lay
and returned it to it's rightful owner.

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Latest Comments

  • 4 years ago

    by Keira Pickard

    This is excellent and , sadly, true. When you try to help someone and it's rejected rudely or otherwise it's always upsetting and confusing. The title works really well with the poem. I love how you wrote
    ' the exclamation managed to make it through her earphones'.
    It really makes the message hit even harder. I really enjoyed the poem :)

    • 4 years ago

      by Maher

      Thanks Keira, glad you enjoyed it. Thankfully, people like this are generally a minority :)

  • 4 years ago

    by Brenda

    Wow Maher this is quite the piece. It really is awful when someone tries to just do the right thing and is met with hostility and rudeness. Its unacceptable. I'm sorry, I feel as if this piece is a true account that happened to you.

    • 4 years ago

      by Maher

      Thanks Brenda, glad you enjoyed it. It didn't happen to me personally, but is a real account. Just thought it would have more weight written in first person. I have had very similar things happen to me though and you're right, it's definitely not pleasant. But that's the world we're in now :)

  • 4 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    This is a thought-provoking piece. Earbuds used as a barrier, keeping the outside out and, it seems, chivalry too. Maybe a person so uptight, should stick to exercising indoors?
    Nice piece, was this a true story?

    • 4 years ago

      by Maher

      Thank you good Sir, glad you enjoyed it. Didn't happen to me personally, but it did happen in a park I frequently walk through around the corner from where I live. It has more of an impact in first person and I wanted it to hit home. Definitely not taking credit for it being a personal event. I have had very similar things happen to me though, unfortunately. People have become very...not nice :)

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