“Some Words for the Week”

just two items

at the grocery store

costs more than $30

and worth that’s more than

a few hours of hard work

dealing with condescension

behind the counter

serving the rich

or freezing fingers outside

working in the sun and sleet

also serving the rich

and my life is spent

driving back and forth

from the job

up the canyon

home and back down

for another day of sweating

for somebody who was born

with enough money in the bank

to live a good life forever

without lifting a finger

and so I’ll work extra this week

to make a few extra hours of pay

to get a pumpkin pie

and bring it to the table

and pretend the world is ok

Alexander Shalom Joseph is a writer from Gilpin County. He has two published books and one more forthcoming in the Fall of 2022. For more information and to subscribe to Alexander’s Newsletter go to alexandershalomjoseph.com