The Scavenger

HE HOPED THAT HE WAS THE FIRST ONE
TO MAKE THE ROUNDS FOR FOOD THAT NIGHT
PAST EXPERIENCES HAD BEEN TRAUMATIC
OCCASIONALLY HE HAD BEEN FORCED TO FIGHT

EMBARRASSED, HE RAISED THE DUMPSTER LID
HIS HUNGER WAS OVERCOMING HIS PRIDE
TAKING A CHANCE, HE QUICKLY SCAVENGED
A BAG OF APPLES, HE SMILED, THEN HE CRIED

QUICKLY CLUTCHING HIS PRIZE TO HIS CHEST
HE HURRIED AWAY, HOPING NOT TO BE SEEN
KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND
WOULD CRITICIZE, SAY WORDS HARSH AND MEAN

EVER SINCE THE DAY HE HAD BEEN LAID OFF
FEEDING HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN INCREDIBLY HARD
THE GOOD JOB HE HAD WORKED AND ENJOYED
HAD VANISHED AND CAUGHT HIM OFF GUARD

WITH FOUR KIDS AND A PREGNANT WIFE
MONEY, THERE NEVER SEEMED TO BE ENOUGH
HIS UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK WAS BARELY ABLE
TO BUY NECESSITIES, PAYING UTILITIES WAS TOUGH

NOW HIS PRIDE TOOK A KICK IN THE PANTS
THERE WAS YET ANOTHER DUMPSTER AHEAD
HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD DO HIS VERY BEST
TO AVOID SENDING HIS HUNGRY KIDS TO BED

Thursday, June 23, 2022