Rejected
THE BAGS CONTENTS RATTLED LOUDLY
AS I ADDED ANOTHER ALUMINUM CAN
THE WIND HAS PICKED UP SHARPLY
RAIN SOAKING THIS HOMELESS MAN
AHEAD ARE THE GROCERY DUMPSTERS
AS I HURRY ALONG THE WAY
A LOAF OF BREAD OR SPOILED FRUIT
MEANS I MIGHT GET TO EAT TODAY
SOGGY BUNS WERE TO BE MY PRIZE
AS I LOWERED THE DUMPSTER LID
SCURRYING AROUND THE CORNER
FROM JUDGMENTAL EYES I HID
KEEPING IN THE DARK SHADOWS
TO MY CARDBOARD HOME I FLED
LYING IN THE DARKNESS I LISTENED
AS OVERHEAD THE TRAFFIC SPED
NOT MANY WOULD EVER KNOW
OF THE PRIOR LIFE THAT I HAD LED
A GOOD JOB AND A MARRIAGE
HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THIS INSTEAD
MY PARENT’S WORDS I RECALL
“SUCCESS COMES TO THOSE WHO TRY”
ONE DAY THEY BECAME HOLLOW
WHEN MY EMPLOYER SAID GOODBYE
SOMETHING CALLED “DOWNSIZING”
WAS THE EXCUSE THAT HE GAVE
I’M SORRY ABOUT YOUR PENSION
AND MONEY I HOPE YOU’VE SAVED
SOCIAL SECURITY, I’M TOO YOUNG
NOW THIS DRAFTY BOX IS MY HOME
PENNILESS, TIRED AND BROKEN
NOW THESE LONELY STREETS I ROAM