RUBY'S WELFARE

standing in line
after being told
indians don't stand in line
cuz a kiowa woman at window #6
helps the skins

time passes me
still in line

man at window #1
tells me welfare is a luxury
and how come i don't have a job
check the time
i smile 
place my forms in the box marked
L E A V E  F O R M S  H E R E
black black and bold
welfare is a luxury
place your form in our box
play by our rules

i laugh
sit
smoke a Virginia Slim
and talk to the spirits

people talk about luxury
but what they mean is obligation
obligation to remain lower class
for food
$4.25 an hour doesn't feed three

again 
i check the time
light another Virginia Slim
not finished with the spirits

luxury
the u.s. forgot the definition
forgetting who allowed them to create the u.s.
through obligation of treaty
honored through
IHS and a truckload of commods
luxury overextended
obligation 500 years behind

ready to light Virginia Slim #3
i'm called by window #6