Going Out Or Going In - The Age-Old Question Poem by Raj Dronamraju

He sucks in his stomach, puffs out his chest
His failures could fill a 12 volume set

He combs diminishing strands to cover his pate
Goes out too early, nothing's happening at eight

The streets are filled with cheerful cowards and depressed lotharios
Tight mouthed "no" projecting females in stony awareness

His shirt is red, shimmery denial, all middle aged chaos and frustration
Either phlegmatic or boisterous, both states petition for sensation

The drinks are watered down, the people are watered down
Can't dance, can't smoke indoors, he walks around the bar pretending he has a purpose

Evenings of waste, the experience of the 21 year old and the 48 year old are a collage
Of futile exertions in repetition - going nuts, expecting different results