Slashed Tires and a Cancer Ward

Life is a lot like everyone says it is
on the radio or the television.
Life is bland and complex, full
of dish soaps and deodorants
and car tires and fleas.
Coupons and red tags
make us tick, dinero makes us alive
so today I must be dead for again
my pocket is empty along with my
stomach but hell, it's always better
than dying of cancer
unless, like the romantics
your glass is half empty
then today we're all dying everyone
you and me in the sweltering sun
as a voice on the stereo says
we'll be better in that new car
or in those new shoes
or eating their burger with it's grease causing
tumors.
I didn't take the job, don't hate me for that,
find a better reason to hate me, I'll give
you plenty just please don't kill me
like cancer does or flatten my tires as
soon as I start going and if I run
out of boxes then damn what is left
I'll leave it behind for someone else
to handle.