Nellie Wong- Poetry

FORECLOSURE

For Carlene Balderama
"Woman shoots self over foreclosure"
Taunton, Mass.
San Francisco Chronicle, July 14, 2008


Okay, just come on in.
Never mind that I am lying
Here, stone cold.
Doesn’t matter anymore.
Look in the cupboard.
There may be some Cheerios.
In the fridge there may be
Some milk, at least half a pint
To wet your whistle.
Be careful. Don’t stomp
On my body, just walk around
As if you’re in a mausoleum.
Or, better yet, as if you came
To pay your respects.
I faxed my letter
To the mortgage company
This afternoon after I drank
A cup of Starbuck’s coffee.
So, go ahead, Mr. Auctioneer,
See what you can get
For this old house,
Small, cramped, but where
I lived with my husband and kids.
Just go ahead, see
Who the highest bidder is.
Just make sure you feed the cat.
And don’t take away
My husband’s high-powered rifle.
He owns it free and clear.



© Nellie Wong