Elizabeth Romero: Being Poor

It can be a kid as white as you:

A kid with an old face.

It can be hope:

Hope the sheriff doesn’t come

To serve the eviction papers

When you happen to be home;

That you don’t have to put anything back

At the checkout counter.

It can be waiting

And telling your children to wait

Wait their whole childhoods away.

It’s knowing they blame you.

It’s wondering

If there isn’t a better way.

It’s trying not to envy

Almost everyone you see.

It’s not getting enough

And getting mad.

.

Being poor is bones and hearts

And marrow and gray street dirt.

And if there is a God;

If there is a God anywhere

We haven’t heard the half of it.

Copyright 2019 Elizabeth Romero