Pink Slip by Michael L. Pittman
long about 5:30,,
the whole thang
jus’ took a shit…
i felt the final curtain
a commin’ down
-took ta spinin’
i had to sit…
set there fer
a good hour,
head a tucked
deep,,
bu’tween my knees.
mama wadn na kiddin’
when she said
they’d be days like these…
i snapped a
ten weight
line a spittle
from the corner a my lip.
grabbed a half
drunk up bud wizer
can,, like ta crush
under my grip..
tipped ‘er back
and took a swag
warm as piss-
it hit my throat.
i swallered hard,
finished her off,
and snatched up
the remote..
i mashed down
on the pow’r button
pinched off a chaw,
an took ta chewin’
flipped on past
the nightly news,,
don’t much care
what this country’s doin’….
when a man
can’t feed his chi’dren,
can’t keep a roof
over his wife.
when they come to take
your home-
the one damn thang
you worked fer all your life..
when you have ta hide
yer truck at night,
as they’s a wanting
that back too..
when yer kids is sick,
but the doc’s moved on,
can’t afford
to treat the likes a you..
you can’t pay
too much nevermind
to the fallin’
a ol’ wall street
when they done handed
you your pink slip-
and you ain’t sure
how yer kids is gone eat….
