Poverty Line
lone figure
on the street
can’t go home
can’t go there
blank resume
no experience
no schooling
no background
no reference
and even if
no threads
for a sit down
no face to match
the image
no breaks for him
the classifieds are classified
nobody ever gave him nothin’
but a hard time
he understands hate
what it is to be homeless
to be hungry
but those people
blowin’ down the highway
with their paychecks in their pockets
and PTA and pet poodles
and dinner on the table
and “TiVo” shows
and presents under the tree
and heat in the house
and a blessin’ before bed
they don’t understand
how could they
they got somewhere to go
somewhere to be
someone waitin’ for ‘em
someone in their corner
they got kids in college
degrees on the wall
investments
and equity
and deposits
and insurance
and stocks
and bonds
and it’s startin’ to drizzle
and they’re opening their umbrellas
gettin’ outta the car
hard day at work
and the wife’s whinin’ bout getting wet
and the weatherman predicts
a cold front
TL