I can’t keep up
 when the money comes in 
only a second
 then it’s gone again. 

 work
             bills 
 work
             bills 

 Looks like Ichiban for dinner tonight 
but that’s the student-by-day, 
server-by-night, life
 “Here’s your thirty dollar steak. 
Would you like another beer?” 
 when what I really want to ask is 
“How did you get here?!”
 to where you can afford
 to eat out every night 
 and spend my whole months rent 
on food that’s over-priced.
 It’s ironic, can’t you see
 that you leave me a “tip” 
 but please, keep your money
 and instead, write a list
 give me step by step instructions 
a timeline or a plan 
 anything to get me out
 of this debt and quicksand 

 But that’s not the way this world 
works so,
 thanks for the tip. 

 work
             bills 
 work
             bills 

written fall of 2016