Parking Ticket Descent
Having
been paid in cash,
he wasn’t eligible for workers’ compensation
from being injured falling off a ladder.
Rent became unaffordable.
He moved
into a shared a room.
Who drank my milk, ate my food?
He left.
Moved in
with his sister til she COVID lost her job.
Not wanting to be a burden ,
he moved out.
Slept
in his van until it got towed
due to unpaid parking tickets.
Found
an encampment.
9 thoughts on "Parking Ticket Descent"
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this poem is hauntingly sad
A Modern American
Biography
(it’s where we are)
A pebble of trouble turns into an avalanche. Effective poem.
I fall all the way with you in his descent. Excellent poem
These spare, brief, truthful depictions of the rougher side of living lend humanity & dignity to the struggle. It’s stunningly courageous work and you do it well.
Heartbreaking. This could be a movie. I already like it more than The Pursuit of Happyness.
Sad, bad news.
I’m amazed at the efficiency of the poem parallels the speed of the descent
This poem illustrates our lack of a social safety net all too well. It’s important to write about these stories