It can be a kid as white as you,
a kid with an old face.
And it is hope,
hope that the sheriff doesn't come
to serve the eviction papers
when you happen to be home.
Hope
that you don't have to put anything back
at the checkout counter.
Being poor is waiting,
and telling your children to wait,
wait their whole childhoods away.
It is knowing
they blame you.
It is wondering
if there isn't a better way.
Being poor is trying
not to envy almost everyone you see.
It's not getting enough
and getting mad.
Being poor is bones and hearts
and marrows and gray street dirt.
If there is a God,
and if there is a God anywhere,
we haven't heard the half of it.