Middle
Is the no-regrets choice:
not too big for something
you might not like
not too small if what is new
is very good.
Is stable:
not the risk-taking
of the secure first child, not
the attention-seeking
of the clinging youngest.
Is reliable:
won’t be the first,
won’t be the last,
will just keep on keepin’ on
Is predictable:
always –er,
never –est
Grew up invisible in a culture
where fries and cokes
came only in small or large.
But now Middle
has Starbucks.
Now Middle
can strut her stuff.
Grandé is a favorite size
Grandé is a heart’s delight
Grandé goes to clubs
that don’t open till 11
dressed so fine that
-er is on no one’s mind.
Grandé always thought
that tall was small.
And Grandé knows
that no one knows
what Venti means,
anyway