Rent Court Poem by Dorothy (Alves) Holmes

The folks were all ages
And surely it was not a matter of color,
Some were bold in their strut,
Arrogant in the tilt of their heads,
Making the statement -'You Owe Me World! '
'If you don't have a cripe with your landlord, the line
Forms here! You others stay seated! '
Yelled the barker.
Young and old,
Men and women
Made a mad dash and lined up for the Social Service
Give away
Umph!
'I don't even see my tenant,
This is costing me time! ' someone complains.
'You should be on the side line with the rest of the
Rent collectorsssss', someone replied.
A baby starts to wail...
Loud! ! !
Go on baby, go on and cry!
This is the rent court.
'Where is the judge? '
'My forms say be here at 9 a.m and it's 9: 10.
'Umph! '
9: 25
'All Rise! '
'The Rent Court is now in session! '