Emergency Situation

I threw out your blue underwear,
Mother said. It had a hole in it.
No son of mine will ever be caught wearing that.
It's a reflection on me. It makes me look bad.
I know no one can see it. But you can't be sure.
Let's say you break your leg. You're rushed
to the hospital. The nurse takes off
your pants. She'll see it. The doctor
may not even put on a cast, because
he'll think you come from a poor family.
I didn't bring you up to embarass me.
When you were little I dressed you up
like a girl. You were gorgeous.
You had curls hanging over your face.
But let's be honest. You're no longer cute.
You're too old to get away with anything.

-Hal Sirowitz, "Mother Said", 1996.