On The Descent

Free Verse Poem

Alexander Krivitskiy via Unsplash

Nobody knew what Janie
was thinking when
she sold her sole
ride to a paycheck and
stayed at home
all day saying she
was just a step away
from the big city,
the spot lights,
the glitter, the press, while

she waited for the
lady next door to bring
her some bread

and soup, the lady
across town to give
her a ride to the
doctor, the lady downtown
to send her an Independence card.

Nobody knew why Janie
was talking about Ferraris
and diamonds, her face
on Time, of her friends
Oscar, Toni, Emmy, and
Grammy, while we

waited to find out when
her new mouth
would appear, where was
the father, and where she
would live next
month when the landlord
kicked her out.

Nobody knew where Janie
would be next year.
.
Except Janie.