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Corner
Work
Thom Stromer
When you're a little black boy
standing on a street corner
in jaw shearing winter chill
squeegeeing windows for change
you see all the pretty cars.
and all them pretty workin' ladies
in sexy business suits
sparkled up eyes,
deep ruby lips
and dangling gold earrings.
traffic light goes green-yellow-red.
they stop and stare straight ahead.
ignoring me.
"Iım a workinı man Mamma!"
"A man of enterprise and income!"
"All this, before i even hit puberty!"
"I'll bet that guy yer' fuckin' didn't start workin' until after college!"
"Some man he IS!"
"I got to get to work!"
I approach from your left
and don't even look at you................(same as you not to me)
The squeegee's wet and raised,
I cooly walk over like you expected me to do it.
You're straining, seeing me get closer
hoping I won't try ...................(but i will).
and when the drop drips on your windshield
and it's about to go down
you ALL THE SUDDEN SEE ME!
you wave me off and
mouth the words, "NO THANX".
You look like yerı gonnaı give birth!
Soooooo me being the nice entrepreneur I am
I clean it anyway.
You've lost the battle
and wind up giving me 32 cents
out of "gratitude" and Deep White Guilt.
Thanx.
Thom
Stromer
copyright 1999
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