Less Than Human

Or, "How I feel every other Friday."

And before you know it,
you're desperate.

When I walk down the street,
every person I meet,
I feel like they can see
the balance of my bank account
scribbled across my forehead:
Dollar and thirty-two cents.
I can't buy a cup of coffee-
let alone food,
let alone gas,
let alone rent.

Another paycheck,
another gasping breath.
By Monday, you've
paid the rent,
filled up the tank,
put food in the fridge,

and you're drowning again.
You can hear the words follow on
the heels of your aching feet:
Dollar and thirty-two cents.

It'll be two more weeks
before you can breathe again.

Reviews

[Damien Thibodeaux]

And who says you don't need money? "Less Than Human" is a perfect title for this. That's how you feel when you're broke and struggling just to survive. I can feel the hopelessness in this write. Good job.