five hundred

A quick piece exploring a sad turn in my life, which taught some painful lessons

five hundred dollars


that's my loyalty's worth
doesn't matter how much i cared
or how hard i worked
with future yields looking scarce

the pride i showed
and the energy i gave
flew out the window
when the pandemic came

i had big ideas
which went nowhere
i had suggestions
but you didn't care

you placed me
in such a little box
gave me pebbles to work with
and expected me to make blocks

how grateful i was
to be a part of that train
not knowing then
that i'd be tossed in the rain

i was kind and more
but being kind meant little
since i was still left
to try and stay dry in the storm

much of my fire's gone
and my trust surely out the door
even if i was promised riches
i don't want to serve you anymore

i deserved more respect than i got
it's actually funny,
being thrown out showed
i am worth more than i thought

you have yours to tend
that fact i do not ignore
i only wish you'd looked me in the eyes
when you kicked me overboard

Author's Note

opinions welcome