LOUD MAN SELLING

A POEM

LOUD MAN SELLING

poem by Joshua Todd James

I watch

the pushy man

complete with

loud tie

half a head of hair

combed up

and

protruding gut

over in the corner

as he spins his game

on a client

trying to feed himself

I watch

and wonder

is this what I have to do

to eat

is this the action in front of me

because

while my stomach is growling

and my pride gone

I gotta do something

I don't know

so hungry

so poor

teeth falling out

eyes sinking

the deal

they tell me

it's all about the deal in this world

you wanna live

you wanna have the things that make livin' living

you wanna eat

you gotta put on the uniform

choke yourself with a tie

and

become part of the machine

I don't know

I don't know if I can do it

so hungry tho'

and tired

very

tired

think I'll just lie down

for awhile

nap

for awhile

I have to close my eyes for a little bit

as I listen

to the loud paunchy man

spin successfully

hyper

obese

rich

and

corrupt

I sleep

as he lives

the good life

I

sleep