Lifeline

I can’t take these lines,
Keepin me from my youngest,”
She thought, inching closer
To the window and money.

“Every week the same bullshit
Then the groceries and smokes,
That shitty apartment wit
No AC, no nothing”.

“Scary to get home after dark.
Christ, it’s scary before dark.
And that fuckin elevator,
Smells from piss and shit.”

“When I get to the window,
That sonofabitch clerk, gonna look at me,
Thinkin “get a job”.
Right, if you look after the kids.

“Jesus H. Christ, it’s hard.
My Pete, a good man,
Wouldn’t hurt nobody,
Makes 250 per week.

“They take out the fuckin taxes,
Leaves enough to stay hungry.
Jesus, if I’m not livin my mother’s life.
Runnin hard, goin nowhere”