this is not a poem.
what is it i can’t live without?
according to
maslow’s hierarchy of needs
the correct answers could be any of the following;
air
food
water
shelter
warmth
sex
sleep.
but saying
‘i can’t live without x, y, and z’
lacks the cadence and pseudo-existentiality
that this contest requires.
i do value surviving
it’s what makes all this possible-
but living requires more depth.
this broken prose, however heartfelt and true,
is just an example of
exploiting my sub-par labor for monetary gain in order to subsist.
and, y’know, that’s perfectly okay.
i mean, you’re helping us, for heaven’s sake!
if i want to live my life then i definitely need-- ah, there's the rub!
i need people like you to help me pay for my education
yes, yes it's much clearer now.
without it, i could be the third generation without a college degree
without it, i might go into my thirties drowning in college debt.
now, that hardly seems like living, don’tcha think?
the black ink of my college acceptance letter hardens into steel
the second i sign on the dotted line.
you are keeping me alive
you are filling this beaten, disenfranchised generation of broken hearts
with a sense of courage and hope.
naturally, i know this seems like a copout.
blowing hot air up your proverbial skirt
and, sure, maybe it is.
but hey, it’s not the 10th poem recounting the value of friendship or family
not that there’s anything wrong with that
they have their value system, and i have mine.
i just can’t live without some freaking help paying for college
that's just all there is to it.