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Poverty Line

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

Published inTamiko Lowery