the time clock

you remember
the bad jobs.
the bad
bosses.
punching the clock
with your card.
the low wages
and hard
conditions.
how you had
to wait in line
for your check.
how
the sun came
up regardless
of how you felt.
you remember
the callouses
on your hands,
the bruises,
the cuts,
the ache of muscles
at the end
of a day.
the half hour
lunches.
you remember counting
your money,
the hours times
whatever pitiful
amount per
hour you were being
paid, minus
taxes and fica,
minus
fees and penalties
for being young
and unmarried.
you remember it all
like it was yesterday,
but now,
no one would
believe you.