Features

Since I haven’t seen yours firsthand 

I can only describe my neighborhood 

on city pick-up day 

when the recycling vultures 

descend 

replete to the point that just carrying 

a blue carton or two 

to the curb 

can bring a bevy 

of inspectors 

to claw through the week’s remains 

for glass, plastic, tin, steel 

newspapers & corrigated 

in fact often all gone 

before I’ve made it back inside 

to start anew emptying mostly 

more containers 

but because so many 

in spite of taxpayer efforts 

claim my refurse 

I’m convinced there’s reason 

to begin 

scavenging city streets 

for profit 

myself.