six tons or sixteen
the result is the same
older poorer
gussied up in their finery
another day deeper in
their very persistence
argues nothing changes
city hall
must not be challenged
kept its impudence inviolable
the company store
brooks no competitor
monopoly
pervasive in granularity
restrictive of options
so generous it tab
putting all in its debt
yazzir
three bags full
for one in return
live to fight another day
with diminished returns
hungrier weaker
only now seeing beyond
order’s mirage