Stockyard

enter the building
walk through the gate
through the metal detector
into the lobby
feels like a stockyard
the line continues
towards the first person to speak with
like a creek flowing into a dam
no water flowing out
keeps flowing
finally
a trickle here, a trickle there
one by one
names are called
meet with the second person
set your appointment
meet with a third person


the stockyard
full of broken people
tears to my eyes
children not a clue
shouldn't have to experience this
single moms, babes in tow
broken hearted i sit
waiting
waiting for the second person
watching
watching around me
some should focus on retirement
others their career
why
how
here


socioeconomic background matters not
demographics matter not
young
old
black
white
brown
yellow


it happened to me
you?
i wish not
hope not
dignity lost
nothing to do but count the light fixtures