“The begging and pleading
Don’t mean nothing
To me
Ya gotta understand
This is just business
And business is good”

The heavy slap of his fist
Into a smart mouth

Me getting change for a dollar

The Old Man stuffing the junkie
Into a dryer
“Ya got my money now motherfucker?”

…heard behind the closed doors
Of the 8 year old’s belief
In his father

At McDonald’s
Eating cheeseburgers
From Styrofoam containers

He looked across the table
To me
And said

Pay attention to today

Hold your mud
And
Honor your debts

©workingclassproduction.com, 2015