Poem - MAG Poetry Prize 2010
The Credit Crunch
by
Durham, UK
At ten fifteen in the morning
a man washes up.
He wears a white tracksuit
with two black stripes
and an oversized coat
when he goes to check on the bins.
The dustmen still haven’t been.
So he scrubs the cups.
His wife is at work,
the cat is asleep,
and there are still two hours until lunch.
He finds a plate
painted with two-week-old food.
Two weeks ago.
He was working then.
This one was stuffed under the sofa.
He is ashamed.
Added: 26.04.2010
07.05.2010
Tone is sparse and effective. Strong ending.
08.05.2010
Love the clarity and detail of this snap-shot. Well-chosen title.