Courtesy Absurd - A Poem

Kneeling in the crisp December grass,
the young man reached toward her,
offering a bundle of torn nylon,
remnants of panties and hose.

"Here," he said,
returning only the least
of what he had ripped
from her that night.

Frowning over dark hooded eyes,
he must have known
that her safety was forever lost
and self-assurance shredded.

Yet, good habits overrode shock,
and she said, "thank you,"
taking her clothes from his hand
as if he'd given her a pencil or a rose.