The Cost of Living
.
It takes half the day
for an old lady to bathe
her old man. The price
of life is precarious,
a footstep, how strong
to lock arms, as if we
will go down together.
It requires—living more
than a few moments—
motion, energy, breath
to say he’s in a bad way.
Life costs twice as much
as it did last year.
For the record:
A week of groceries
is three hundred dollars.
The balance can be paid
per item or shots fired
in the parking lot.
Atlantic Station charged
the death or incarceration—
without distinction—
of one twelve-year-old,
two fifteen-year-olds,
and one sixteen-year-old.
Totaling four families
grieving over Christmas.
We plan to keep our son
home, protect our invest-
ment: college = a seventy-
two-hour hold.
Everything has gone up.
The fair market value
of one Black woman is
one Russian arms dealer.
For what will it profit a man,
if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?
We risked our lives to find
Jesus outside the church.
He never left us, but leaving
cost us friends.
The cost of living is
losing what we think
we live for.
Valerie A. Smith’s first book of poems, Back to Alabama, is forthcoming from Sundress Publications. She has a PhD from Georgia State University and a MA from Kennesaw State University where she currently teaches English. Above all, she values spending quality time with her family.
←previous ••• next→
