Thin hamburgers
and stale buns,
with a lot of pickles
to hopefully give it a taste.
Walmart brand potato chips,
all on paper plates.
The clothes are worn out,
bobby pins hide the holes.
Shopping at Goodwill
and the Salvation Army
because $30 jeans
are too expensive.
Bunk beds
and sleepless nights.
Generic cereal
or empty bowls
at breakfast.
Walking to school
with your hood up
and face down.
Avoid the ice,
and try not to fall.
Pointless class,
after pointless class.
How will this stuff help you?
Avoid all eye contact.
Hurry up,
and do your homework at lunchtime.
There's nothing to eat anyways.
Try to keep the grades up,
there's no time for homework
at home.
Leave school,
walk home.
You hope it's warmer,
but it's not.
"Watch your sister!"
"Clean your room!"
"Do the laundry!"
"Clean the bathroom!"
While your mother sleeps.
Don't you remember
when you liked to play mom?
Now you're reminding yourself
why you never want kids.
Time too make dinner
for all the younger siblings,
but all that's left
are thin hamburgers
and stale buns....