what are you doing here?

when you worked

on a job

a construction job,

a laborer

pushing wheel barrows

or carrying

tools for carpenters

or brick layers

you'd take a lunch.

and grown men 

with families, or fresh

from the jump would take

out their wallets

to show you

a pay stub showing

how much they made

in one day.

each one topping the other.

those were the days

they'd say.

things have changed.

you can't make money any

more doing this.

you need to learn a trade.

and what about you

kid, they'd ask.

why are you here?