I read the term "gig
economy" for the first time today
meaning that many people
especially the young
do not have full time jobs
with nice fat paychecks
and annual bonuses
and insurance packages
and three or more weeks paid
vacations
per year
Instead we are a floating army of
freelancers
scrambling
banging from gig to gig
trying to piece together an income
but disqualified from being technically
poor
because we were not raised in shacks
and because we own coffee makers
although insurance packages ad
regular paychecks
are entirely alien
The context was an explanation of
why
angry disaffected excluded
disappointed oppressed people
were free during the day to show up
at protests
meaning protesters and obviously
unemployed
and therefore want a socialist
revolution because
THEY ARE LAZY
when in fact those people work from
home
refilling their coffee makers
staying up all night
banging away at a losing game.
There's a cold draft on my legs and
ass here
Sitting in a neighborhood pub
Getting a pint of lager before lunch
time
Trying to soften up a bitter spirit
Cold hands make for difficult typing
And emotional exhaustion make it
hard
To pull words out of an empty heart
Don't I get to have a muse to
inspire me?
This poem, interrupted by an angry
phone call--
There isn't much peace for me, no
break
No quiet moments, no relaxation
And no, no muse to whisper beauty
Sorry if you were looking for
something soft
Grace and love and desire and wonder
I'm just trying to get by here
And if whispers of beauty arrive in
my ear,
They'll have to come from you.
