Lottery Tickets and Fake Shits

The speakers
blare 90s hits about
soaking up the sun
and living in the sun

I check losing lottery tickets
and fill the cooler
while outside young money
slips on ice

it's a kind of paradise

I ask my boss for a bathroom break

she scowls and says "go ahead"

I sit in the stall
and plan my next move

a long sigh
then I flush for appearances

when I get back
there's a man standing at the register
he has a dirty White Sox hoodie on
and bedhead hair

he gives me his instant win ticket

"I know I keep getting taken," he says

"but I just keep playing."

NOT A WINNER
the screen flashes

I tear up his ticket
he thanks me
and walks away

off into the ice

off into paradise

thinking
one day
maybe

© 2011 Lee Kitzis

Black Coffee

I drink black coffee
and listen to Bird play the horn
effortless

like he's taking out the trash

as if to say

we are all dying
little by little

and everything is right
with the world

while it blizzards

and everyone
struggles with shovels

and starting cars

dying
little by little

till they're left
at the side of the road

on some unforgiving
six degree
Midwestern night

or sold for scrap

and everything is right

with the world

dying out

at the end of its song

Bird lights a cigarette

and smiles

© 2011 Lee Kitzis

December 31, 2010

New Year's Eve

everyone's asleep in the cafeteria

no holiday bonus
not even so much as a thank you note

the crowd files downstairs
good wholesome families
3 kids
paid vacation

the product
of Veuve Clicquot
and missionary sex

New Year's Eve
not even so much as a thank you note

they put on their white aprons
and move to the spaghetti bar

the poor
the beaten

sleep creases all over their faces

while the meatballs wait
plump and ready

© 2011 Lee Kitzis