Once I sought for job,
I walked the streets and prowled the roads.
I checked every sign and noticed every board.
The vacancies became the air I breathe,
I always felt them.
Well, they seemed to see me and run.

Once I was desperate,
anything and everything,
I was ready to do all.
Well, minus the illegals and sinfuls
An air of dignity wouldn't let me bend as low,
Even though I felt the mirage of it only.

Then a day came,
I sighted a woman, tall, elderly too.
She seemed like she lived in a big house,
she had a big car.
I walked past her,
heart roaring, head ringing,
pulse racing of course.

Then, as I passed by her,
I felt strong chords,
of fatigue, of pressure,
and yes desperation.
All woven together, drawing me back.

Just to ask,
"Do you have a job for me?
You must have a large space,
Let me fill a little please.
I can do anything, and everything,
I could cook, I could clean,
I would aid, I would raise.
I'm stronger than I look,
surely bigger than I seem".

Just as I would turn and plead,
by sheer preservation,
remember that mirage of dignity,
twas maybe pride though, the shadowy one,
kept me going,
kept my feet moving.
Until, I was too far to turn back.

In the end, I shook my head,
'cause for days,
I imagined and continued thinking,
maybe, just maybe
I had missed a turning point, or
I had just escaped pain,
as in embarrassment or worse.

© Chesed