just one mile walk home
to car-shop drop-off frenzy
begin evening stress

science fair project
won’t keep quiet on my mind
leaves alleviate

no avocados?
two wheels, backpacked ride to store
guacamole dreams

oldest cycles home
begins three-shower cycle
all by six-forty

spicy tacos rest
on spicy dream-home dispute
taste still in my mouth

all ’cause he worked late
foreshadowing our future:
crap hours, low pay

sacrifice my peace
for shut-in civility?
i’d rather be poor

rich are days with him
those hours in his absence?
a chronic longing

even the girls cry
as they will with no ‘good nights’
tears don’t buy us time

the two-income trap
snagging our life with more debt
all for image, greed

just one mile walk back
where refugee students wait,
offer perspective