Ode to the Proletariat

I’m workin’ hard I don’t know why
I’m like a working class dog and I just get by — Rick Springfield

Photo by Les Anderson on Unsplash

Faded wallpaper

with yellow roses

and a water stain

in the left corner of the living room

Worn napping

on the plaid couch,

Earth tones, of course

Toilets that run

’til you jiggle the handle

and windows fortified with plastic

to keep out the draft

Pink foam curlers

peeking out from under

a bright floral scarf

as she pushes the cart

full of Mac ‘n Cheese

and Spam

and Shake ‘n Bake

through the grocery store

on a Saturday morning

wearing sensible shoes

Children

at the bus stop

with Wonder Bread wrappers

covering their feet

to keep them dry

in last year’s boots