The Haves and the Have-Nots

Interesting prompt this week at PoETry ThURsdAy! Spend a week with a poet or poetry you don’t like, don’t normally read, or something that otherwise drags you out of your comfort zone. Ironically, the online writing course I’m taking has me writing character sketches and epitaphs. I am out of my comfort zone on all sides. Except, of course, at home. Still mom. Still very comfortable with unmade beds, Legos on the floor, hide and seek at bedtime…

As I was saying, writing out of your comfort zone. I am not a political poet. Nor do I write about people much, at least not in a political, reflecting on humanity sort of way. I guess I’m more of a personal poet. So here I am this week, making a statement about my beloved suburbs. Comments welcome, encouraged! Help me get this ready to publish in my burb’s little newspaper!

The Haves and the Have-Nots: New Millennium, Suburb Style

One day, the strong men of the have-nots,
the copier technicians, furnace repairmen,
firefighters and mechanics,
are going to pick up their mid-size SUVs,
their Pathfinders, 4-Runners, and Ford Pick-Ups,
carry them across town to the have’s freshly sealed
driveways and drop their sensible loads,
park them right next to the Hummers, the Suburbans
and the Sequoia’s, see what makes a gas guzzler shudder.

Later that same day the have-not wives will pull
their own fast one. Pull on their Wal-Mart camouflage
capris, sneak into the have’s cavernous kitchens,
tiptoe across imported Italian tile, turn the shining
knobs on the convection ovens, and cook the sushi.
While the have-not kids keep the haves occupied
with brown paper sacks of contraband,
MSG, pure sugar, fake orange cheese,
the wives will pour the bottled water
down stainless drains, replace it with tap,
leave sticky-note calling cards:
Come on over sometime.