THE SCAVENGER

                     THE SCAVENGER

            HE HOPED THAT HE WAS THE FIRST ONE
            TO MAKE THE ROUNDS FOR FOOD THAT NIGHT
            PAST EXPERIENCES HAD BEEN TRAUMATIC
            OCCASIONALLY HE HAD BEEN FORCED TO FIGHT

            EMBARRASSED, HE RAISED THE DUMPSTER LID
            HIS HUNGER WAS OVERCOMING HIS PRIDE
            TAKING A CHANCE, HE QUICKLY SCAVENGED
            A BAG OF APPLES, HE SMILED, THEN HE CRIED

            QUICKLY CLUTCHING HIS PRIZE TO HIS CHEST
            HE HURRIED AWAY, HOPING NOT TO BE SEEN
            KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND
            WOULD CRITICIZE, SAY WORDS HARSH AND MEAN

            EVER SINCE THE DAY HE HAD BEEN LAID OFF
            FEEDING HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD
            THE GOOD JOB HE HAD WORKED AND ENJOYED
            HAD VANISHED AND CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD

            WITH FOUR KIDS AND A PREGNANT WIFE
            MONEY, THERE NEVER SEEMED TO BE ENOUGH
            HIS UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK WAS BARELY ABLE
            TO BUY NECESSITIES, PAYING UTILITIES WAS TOUGH

            NOW HIS PRIDE TOOK A KICK IN THE PANTS
            THERE WAS YET ANOTHER DUMPSTER AHEAD
            HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD DO HIS VERY BEST
            TO AVOID SENDING HIS HUNGRY KIDS TO BED