hope joy and opportunity

i've been

watching way too much news

covering

the presidential

candidates,

interviews

and debates.

no matter what someone asks

me,

i immediately let out

a loud cackling,

laugh, rolling my eyes

into my head and

tell them

that i was born into a middle

class family,

where my mother had to work

to have

money. we lived

in a neighborhood,

where people

liked their lawns.

i believe in hope and joy,

and opportunity,

do you know what a babysitter

costs these days?

or what bread

costs?

my barista looks at me,

and shakes

his head and says,

what?

what are you babbling about?

have you lost

your mind?

i just asked you if you needed

room for cream

in your grande Americano.

a simple yes or no would

be nice.

oh, sorry, yes, i need room.

now go ahead

and ask me about

how we can close

the border, ask me about inflation

too

or how i can save democracy.