Grumpy Old Women, Grumpy Old Men

Grumpy old women and grumpy old men

Stuck in the mud only sadness to spread;

Why are you grumpy old women, old men?

Your frown makes me think it’s something I said

I used “please” and “thank you”, words I was told

Mixed with big smiles were worth their weight in gold;

I waved goodbye, blew a heartwarming kiss

The scowl returned told me something’s amiss

Why are they grumpy? I scratched my small head

They’ve lived a long life while others are dead;

Surely they know time given is unknown

How we use it is only ours to own

GRUMPY OLD WOMEN, GRUMPY OLD MEN – SYNOPSIS

This poem was inspired by my three year old granddaughter who asked me why I was distraught upon returning to the car after visiting a new store front cell phone service. I told her the lady who attended me was not very helpful and was actually a grumpy old lady stuck in the mud.

For the next 6 months, with grand performance, Emma would ask any old person with a scowl why they were stuck in the mud. My poem enhances her candor with words of wisdom seeded at age 3 but needing time to cultivate as she moves through life.