we so often forget
it’s hard to move
to ask to move

ladders made
of bootstraps
no-
one can climb

as above
many splendoured emperors
piss
trickles down

save for your retirement
they say

your replacement is a robot
they say

the world isn’t fair
they say

skinless grapes pressed to their lips
half-drunk juice of rubies and emeralds

litter held aloft on
minimum wage