Looking For Work

Youth has its advantage when you're looking
for work what a youngster lacks in experience
she makes-up for in enthusiasm
those bright eyes filled with optimism
are seductive and intoxicating

The down trodden can weigh heavy
that compression on your face
distorts your best features, voice,
heavy with too many worries

auto payments due, credit cards maxed out,
other mouths to feed, “I need this job,
don’t turn me away,” you plead.

If an employer sees himself in you
he becomes frightened because
he might become you, so it’s easier
to go with hope and as a result,
your bad luck continues.

When you’re down and out
with nothing more to lose
you become desperate
recalling missed opportunities
and wasted resources

looking for compassion,
your only conversation
is of your recent bowel movement,
the one thing you accomplish each day.

Some people are locked away in prisons
with freedoms kept to a minimum
but the helplessness of unemployment
is more limiting than cages

especially if it lasts longer
than state benefits,
but those payments
don’t include medical insurance

so that rotten tooth
and pain in your gut
will have to wait.

Whatever brought you cash has been sold
friendships tapped beyond repair
even churches find their coffers empty

they can only offer prayers to a god
who must be on vacation for all the attention
he is giving you. Maybe it’s payback time,
for when the blessings were many
but you were too busy to give him thanks.

I hope things get better soon
Maybe next round
you’ll be dealt a better hand

but wishful thinking won't change
the outcome, you must start each day
taking steps however small
by doing something to make a difference,

and hopefully to transform
your circumstances in the process.