As Custom Is - edit

[Tiger the Lion]

Hey Duke, I always like poems about the everyday. This is well done but I agree you can cut some. I'll do my best not to impose.

As Custom Is


I met another man
at my mailbox complex "at the mailboxes" might be simpler unless mailbox complex is a common term I'm unaware of. Sounds clunky either way
and we both gestured
mumbling “Go ahead” as custom is.

After slight delay...

as we got our mail
in one order or the other
we said “Thanks” and “No prob”  -- if you cut what's in bold you wouldn't lose much. Leaves you with a short, sharp exchange
and “Have a good one”
he addressing me as “brother”
and I him as “sir” I love this line. Perfect grammar that most people can't even get their tongues around anymore. Goes to character.
since we didn’t know each other’s names.

Then we went our ways
each self-satisfied
although he knew full well "quite well" might sound less cliche, and a little more ironically pompous, haha
that I was not his brother
and I had my doubts
he was a gentleman
and both of us had really
wanted to go first. I think the last strophe is strong as is, "full" was really not a hiccup.

Basic crit for a basic poem, but comments on content welcome, too.