Fueling For the Day on the Corner
![Me [Joy Hester] 1940 E. Melbourne George St. gelatin silver contact print, 4 x 5cm, photographer Albert Tucker](https://assets.hubstatic.com/x/s.gif "Me [Joy Hester] 1940 E. Melbourne George St. gelatin silver contact print, 4 x 5cm, photographer Albert Tucker")
1.
She needs the fuel
to keep her going
through a day of
walking, pacing
and waiting.
2.
She rolls up her sleeve,
skipping breakfast
for some fast relief.
And there, you can see
on her pale, thin arm
a chance to play
connect-the-dots
3.
But this isn't
a child's game
(nor a game at all).
It’s the fuel she needs for life
that flows from the needle
into her crimson stream.
4.
It hits her hard
With an euphoric glee.
She knows it's no good.
But a little
is all she needs…
A little shot here,
maybe a little there.
Whatever makes her forget
about the corner where
she will be
walking, pacing,
and waiting
5.
She throws her supplies
in her little red purse
and puts on her
finest skimpy skirt
to make that
strung-out body
look more appealing,
(Since tricks don’t come easy
On that mean and rotten street)
6.
Then, she puts on some
makeup to spare
her from
death's own touch
that continuously robs her
of her fleeting beauty.
7.
Out the door she goes,
looking for a little
more money
on a corner
where she'll be
walking, pacing
and waiting.
8.
But that fuel is on her addled mind
And it’s the fuel that makes her
live through another day
on the dirty street corner
where she she’ll always be
walking, pacing
and waiting
9.
That fuel always makes
it better,
always makes
her wanting more…
just a little more here,
just a little more there…
10.
And more until
it's all she lives for.
© 2018 Dean Traylor
Comments
Simply awesome poetry.
This is an impressive poem. It conveys the sadness of the situation very well.
Very good poetry!
A beautiful poetry about a sad reality. It is a cry for help and I hope she will not be there for long pacing and waiting.
That's a lovely piece of poetry. And I love the images too. Thanks for sharing. =)
wow, very good.. creative and it left me wanting more..:)
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