Unpaid Debts Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Many are trying to pinch pennies,
From pockets to pick.
And finding it extremely difficult,
To do this balance act...
While standing on the backs,
Of those bending backward...
Making attempts to recover from attacks,
By tax collectors doing their best to assess...
Property being repossessed,
Before those already owed...
On promissory notes left to have unpaid debts,
To be fulfilled by pawns or accepted poetic pity.
And yet...
Even in a deepening abyss,
The culture vultures dig...
For 'something' to claim that still remains to have value.

'I've found something.
A golf club. A baseball glove.
And two unused tickets,
For the upcoming 'Star Wars' movie.
And you?
What have you discovered? '

~Worn designer jeans.
And assorted promissory notes.
And some quotes from Shakespeare.~

'Shakespeare? '

~Yeah.
You wanna trade? ~

'No.
I'm into Poe.
You could have at least left towels,
For those folks standing naked.'

~And lose my commission?
That aint gon' happen.
They owe. I collect.
That's it.~