the weight

i've noticed lately
the weight carried
by those who work,
not in the limelight,
but in the produce
section lining up
tomatoes, or the man
sweeping the street,
the mailman,
the teacher next door
who teaches piano
at night to make ends
meet. it's a weight
that shows on their
face when no one is
looking. the struggle,
the pull of life
getting heavier. the
beat cop, the plumber
laying pipe. there
is no real getting
ahead, they are as
far ahead as they can
go, and deep within
their souls they
won't say it out loud,
but they truly and
sadly have surrendered,
and know.