saviors of the universe
vikings of their day
riding around on monster metal behemoths
waking up little children in their beds
taking out society’s problems, worries
sweeping them away
scrubbing the refuge
and flushing them down the drain
they make our transgressions disappear.
Garbage men
there to filter our lives
know our secrets
inside and
out
better than ourselves.
*** Trash letter 1***
Josie from Figueroa St. was on the pill again
all of fifteen years old
it didn’t work
she got knocked up on her birthday in her parents bed
with whose baby?
Todd Baxter
who she’s set to run away with
he’s 30 years her senior
but it just felt right
like it needed to happen.
She found him, captivating
he found her, delicious
she loved him for what he could give her, which was
a career in Hollywood
movies, modeling
he promised her she could be just like M Monroe
if only she obeyed him
kept everything a secret
just between him and her.
There, that evening under the pale moonlight
near the evergreen tress they would meet
he would whisk her away
pick her up
she was so light
and home free
they would go all the way
nobody knew
except the garbage men.
***Trash letter 2***
Brian on Chesnut St.
just shoved his father in law into
the ground
fresh soil and all from the wake
he was supposed to be comforting his wife
Melanie
but it was Susan Beltree that churned his fire
and bit his bits
he met her at the funeral
she had given him the best blow job of his life
it happened in the coat room
same day
he didn’t mind
in fact he was grateful
by her artful candor
she was so much better than his wife
she ought to be given some sort of award.
He booked a 7PM res at Shriculia’s
to explain to Melanie he would never see her again
that he needed a clean break
once and for all
he already called ahead for a locksmith
to change the locks that night while
they were out
that way there would be no repeat encounter
with the Mrs.
he just had to make sure he made it home before she did.
***Trash letter 3***
The widow on Wincers Court had become ill recently
never finding a man after her husband
she was the loneliest soul on the block
but also the most observant
generous too
paying for Josie’s prom dress
roller skates for the kids of the neighborhood
she was also there
to give the order to the garbage men
to take care of Brian
catch Todd’s moonlight soiree
and prevent him from harming Josie
do whatever he was going to do with her.
And how did she come to know all of this?
because of the garbage men
she had invited them into her home
befriended them
recognized them for what they were
saviors of society
the human race
mankind
emotional well being
a higher power.
She knew
that despite their place
what simpletons thought
they were important people, human beings
that must be taken seriously
there to renew society
and bring it back from its past transgressions
for only they know they way
to bring us back from the brink
back to our mutual roots
a habitat
which is true.