Me and Society
I saved and saved all my change until I could buy a restaurant meal one day
I dug holes and washed dishes all throughout May
As I entered the restaurant, it was a faraway place
A 20’s speakeasy fantasy set in outer space
They saw my clothes, generic, dirty, no label
The hostess looked down on me but showed me to a table
The waitress took her time, even though I knew what I wanted a month ago
She finally came and asked me my order, “Hello, what do you want? My name’s Flo.”
I told her “I want a T-bone steak medium rare, with a baked potato, broccoli, a dinner salad with ranch, and glass of water and coffee”
She snorted at me, “you know it’s not free.”
“I have two jobs. I’m employed.”
With a distrustful look, she walked away annoyed
I sipped my coffee and looked around
Across the room, in a booth, was a man staring me down
I dropped my gaze to the ground
At the bar were some young guys in jeans and shirts, drinking beer
I knew why they were over there and I was hidden, over here
Keep the fringe out of sight
Take their money, let them have a bite
Give them the old food, starting to mold
Then rush them out, into the cold
It’s okay, today I get a taste
I will work harder, it won’t be a waste
She brought out my plates and laid down the check
I ignored her attitude and prepared my flight deck
I cut the steak, black and overcooked
The broccoli and potato cold, un-microwaved yet precooked
I knew I was slighted, treated unfairly
If I sent it back, it might return hairy
So instead of wasting my time and money, I got up to walk out
In a flash, the manager rushed me and began to spout
“Are you trying to dine and dash?”
“No, I didn’t eat anything here today, I left a dollar for the coffee.”
He looked at my table and saw a full plate, “you have to pay for that.”
I told him, “I won’t pay for something I didn’t order.
I ordered a medium rare steak, cooked broccoli, and a baked potato
You sent me a burnt steak, frozen veggies, and a rock
…service was terrible so let go of my arm, it’s going numb.”
“You aren’t going anywhere, you bum.”
I pulled my arm away and he wouldn’t stop
A middle-aged man that thought he was on top
“I’m calling the police,” he yelled.
I started to walk out, disrespected, my anger swelled
Even bums have feelings you know
He grabbed my shoulder and gave me a blow
I cried out in pain, all the customers turned
They saw who I was, and looked away, unconcerned
I have no money and a bit of anxiety.
Is this my value in society?
I laid on the floor, silently cried
The police rushed in, the manager lied
They handcuffed me and ignored my side
I went to jail and waited for court
Bail was set at five hundred dollars, of course, I fell short
In jail a month waiting to see a judge
Lost my job and won’t get it back, my boss holds a grudge
Lost my spot on the bench where the wind is blocked
At least I’m warm in here behind the bars, locked
I have been homeless 7 years
7 long years of shedding tears
I was going to kill myself when it all started
I was optimistic, still a life uncharted
It didn’t and it won’t get better
I still have a family, I should write a final letter
I can tie my jumpsuit into a noose
Make sure it’s tight, not even a little loose
Hang from the pipes
Reinforcing stereotypes
Goodbye earth, people, and life
You know I used to have a wife
You think about weird things when it’s done
I kind of wish I had a gun
The noose is holding, I hope it doesn’t drop
I start to gasp for air, wanting it to stop
After a few minutes of struggle, I was finally dead
My letter resting on the bed
They threw it out, along with me
Just another bum, human debris