Reader guidance –
trigger warning for homelessness
Hamster on a Wheel
You can get contents insurance,
cover starts at around 15 thousand
(My gear isn’t worth more than 5k
but anyway, you sleep easier)
– spare any change
– sorry, so sorry
– have a good night
Property tax is a couple of hundred
(water, electric, gas for heating,
cell phone and internet, 600 all-in)
rent is 1800 but we’re inner city
– spare any change
– sorry, so sorry
– have a good night
I’m in the Arts
where no one gets paid what they’re worth
my partner’s in retail but we
dream big about one day making it
– spare any change
– sorry, so sorry
– have a good night
You balance being unable to save
against living centrally. My banker
mate calls me a hamster on a wheel,
three mistakes away from the street
– spare any change
– sorry, so sorry
– have a good night
Originally published by Full House Literary, 2021
This poems is included in Issue #2 'Spades' which is available to read here.
An audio version of the magazine, read by the contributing authors, is also available at the Full House Literary website. The poem above starts at 6.52mins into the recording.
©James Bruce May 2021
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