Existence Fugue
John Cloutier

There are no flowers growing
beneath the poverty line.

No diamonds. No symphonies.
The music they give us is our only choice.

You can borrow all the money you want
to try to learn a way out,

but if you don't know anyone,
you don't know anyone.

Overqualified and underexperienced.
Tooth and nail.

You can't even walk away;
there is no place to walk away to.

There is no love
to make it bearable.

There are no flowers growing
beneath the poverty line.

No diamonds. No symphonies.
Just enough to make rent.







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