Chivalry Poem by Lonnie Hicks

I saw you across the room
and my heart stopped.

You noticed
and I looked away.

I saw you across the room
this time you didn't see
me looking at you.

I moved my eyes
across the all of you
moved my lips
feeling my breath stop.

'Beautiful' I thought
'just a beautiful man'

Not supposed to notice
all the pretty men,
not if you're a bit older:
but pretty I still am
and I want to know
if younger men know;

If I can still attract
a look
still get noticed;
even admired.

Or am I now invisible
to any young man
under 25?

A critical point
in every woman's life
where the line between
younger and older lies.

I move
to catch your line of sight
just to see if your eye
would linger long enough
to make me understand
you wanted a second look.

You glanced
but then glanced away.

I decided for another try
and stood behind
so that if you moved
you encounter me
and I'd dropp my notepad.

Why pass 35
do I
still need to be admired
by younger men?

You moved and my pad dropped.

And with little or no eye-contact,

you picked it up
with a smile
and gave it back.

I bobbed my head
moved on
felled by
indifferent
chivalry
and passage
into
the Older Woman Category.