Personal Finance Poem/s: Losing a Job

Some Background

In case you didn't see the other personal finance poem I wrote:

Not being a poet by trade, I'm a little anxious about putting personal finance themes into poetry, yet I can't help feel like they're strawberries and cream or coffee and butter. People are swayed by the magical use of words in poetry, whether it's a poem about a dark and stormy night or a stanza about a single lily.

Personal finance is equally emotional as you'll understand if you ever try to give someone advice about their money. The biggest problems surrounding money often have deeply psychological roots so maybe the best answer to exploring these problems is to use poetry to examine more deeply these ties.

Not to mention that this should be good fun for me as an aspiring part-time writer. After all, we all love a good challenge! I'll warn you that it's been many years since I've tried my hand at the art of poetry, so tread with caution. And if you don't make it all the way through, leave me a comment and let me know so I don't repeat this wild experiment! Hope it's worth your time~

Losing My Job

Losing It

I sit not hearing

Having heard all I can hear

I sit, not standing

My legs limp like noodles

My mind has paused...

And then I see where I am

In a crowd but alone

Typing and chatter play all around me

I notice then painfully

Tonight I go home jobless

Walking Alone

Have you ever lost a job?

Walking

The sun has set early today

Did it hear me crying inside silently?

My favorite bar closed today

Did the owner know I needed it now more than ever?

My phone hums like a drone in my pocket

But there's no one I want to talk to

If I could, I'd close my eyes here

And skip ahead to a happier future

Or turn back to a past so far away

Denial

What does it mean to lose a job

Did it walk away right past my eyes?

Or dash aside when I've turned away?

Is it that I had it only to lose it?

When in fact, it was cruelly taken away?

I didn't lose a thing

Yet I feel as if I've lost everything

Some Coffee Shop

Why is it that someone making no money wants to spend money?

Why do I find myself sucking down caffeine when all I want is to sleep?

And though I dream of silence I find the busiest and loudest local hub

Surrounding my low glancing looks with bright eyes and full smiles

A sucker for punishment

My legs limp yet again

Some Coffee Shop

That Night

How I wish this silence was broken with rabble

This silence needles my mind begging for my repetitive thoughts

Unable to escape, I think again

But failure has no emotion, no action

It is silent

It is dark

It is night

Next Morning

I wake up parched

Beer and hard spirits have sucked me dry

Hung over I sit up

Slam my alarm clock

And up for work!

This moment has a taste

Sickeningly sweet cough syrup

And so I lay again to rest and forget

No one waits for me today

A Glimmer

A Glimmer

This one day though

I've wasted it away

I sit up and pray for a way

I'm known to quit

To cry

To squeal

But from my depths I find

A dream long left untouched

And though it is dark

Though my blinds are shut

A single glimmer shoots out

From inside my own heart

I can breathe again

I can smile again

Everything indeed

Will be all right.

Comments

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on September 19, 2014:

I really enjoyed this outpouring of feelings in poetry. Its amazing.

ocfireflies from North Carolina on September 18, 2014:

DealForALiving,

You are very talented. I am very impressed. I also agree with Jodah that "A Glimmer" was the perfect one to end with. Thumbs Up for sure.

Best,

ocfireflies aka Kim

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 17, 2014:

Thank you for your kind words and for voting interesting~ It was quite the challenge if I'm perfectly honest, but I may give it another go when things turn around.

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 17, 2014:

Thanks so much for stopping by and for voting up!

Suzanne Day from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on September 17, 2014:

I thought your financial poetry was quite good, as not many people can mix the two! Voted interesting and thank you for showing me something new (wow I am in the rhyme today).

Vivian Sudhir from Madurai, India on September 16, 2014:

Great depth of emotion, DealForALiving. Voted up and look froward to your writings.

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on September 16, 2014:

Powerful emotions oozed through these. It was not for naught. You did well.

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 08, 2014:

Thank you for your heartfelt comments, and for reading my hub~

Joanna Chandler from On Planet Earth on September 08, 2014:

Hi good morning very nice poem but sad it isn't nice for anyone to lose a job especially when you've got bills to pay and children to take care of. I guess that really sucks!

Have a swell day , God will take care of you :)

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 08, 2014:

Thank you for reading. My goal wasn't to try out different styles but it ended up that way as I tried to best encapsulate the emotions of each moment.

Frank Atanacio from Shelton on September 07, 2014:

Ive enjoyed this little collection .. of different styles of poetry..

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 07, 2014:

Thank you for stopping by and commenting. I really appreciate the kind words, and thought there have been lots of people that could share some of the sentiments here.

Dianna Mendez on September 07, 2014:

Your poems bring back memories from long ago. It's pretty harsh to face losing a job and trying to keep finances balanced. You are quite clever to bring this awareness out through poetry.

Jim from Kansas on September 07, 2014:

I've been there. Well done.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on September 07, 2014:

I suspect there are a great many who can relate to this article/poem. I know I could. Well done.

John Hansen from Gondwana Land on September 07, 2014:

These were great poems DealForALiving. I haven't read poetry based on personal finance and losing one's job before so this was something different. They were all good but "A Glimmer" was the perfect one to end with. Well done, voted up.

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 07, 2014:

Thank you for reading and sharing your comment!

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 07, 2014:

It's really become a sad truth that's lasted longer than I had hoped. A lot of people are really struggling and could use encouragement.

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 07, 2014:

That's so terrible that you had to leave because of your boss! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading.

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on September 07, 2014:

I liked your poetry, esp. A glimmer. Thank you..

C E Clark from North Texas on September 06, 2014:

Interesting to see your perception so well expressed. Would that everyone could find a solution so easily when they lose their jobs. So many are still without good paying jobs or any job at all, and it's been nearly 6 years since the crash. Mostly people in their 50s and beyond who will never be able to make up for their losses.

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on September 06, 2014:

I had never lost a job but had to quit for having a bullying boss. I can't even imagine what that must feel like. You have greatly expressed all emotions in a wellapproached poem.

Nick Deal (author) from Earth on September 06, 2014:

Thank you for reading, and for the compliments!

FlourishAnyway from USA on September 06, 2014:

This was some good poetry, Deal. Nicely done and moving as I am sure only someone who has lost a job can express emotions quite this way. Keep writing your poetry.