Garbage Men

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.