Poverty
by Genevieve Petty

Trapped,
Dying slowly from within.
Hopes and dreams,
Wither, die and blow away,
Like so much dandelion seed

Walking the tightrope,
No safety net.

Endless part-time work,
Close to the bone,
Check to check.

How much food do we have?
Does the car run well?
Where would eviction see us?

Suffering,
Endlessly trudging,
A forced march to nowhere.

Bottom of the hole
Struggling to climb out
Sliding back down
The $5.25 slop below

Did your bootstraps break?

Let politicians talk of reform,
Actions speak louder than words.
Let them say everyone is doing well,
We know the truth,
We know who they favor.
I'm too poor to vote Republican.

Nobody knows you when you're down and out
The only ones who know
Are the ones who have been there
But there are more of us than you