Unemployed

by Melissa Hotchkiss

Rex Xu

Monday — 

Wow I feel depressed, out walking the dog at 7:20 a.m. Can’t wait to nap

I see a man (with a blue shirt and black pants) In the Bus Only Lane, clutching A plastic clothes hanger

I am curious about other things: Why is there a single orange ear plug in the hall On the third floor of my apartment building?

As long as we are asking questions… Does anyone in my building have bed bugs? (I don’t want to live near bed bugs)

Tuesday — 

Fruit smoothie with spinach for breakfast Plus a multi-vitamin, calcium supplement A little honey

Mango banana melon Ice ginger mint Apple lemon

It’s very important to eat well Apply sunscreen Expect sun all day

Wednesday —

 I have an interview today oh boy

Thursday —

Friday —

 I walk towards Eighth Street A woman’s head bobs in front of me As she talks on her cell phone

Back and forth Picture this: A drinking bird toy But sideways and much faster

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Melissa Hotchkiss is a poet, editor, photographer and performer. Her first book of poems, Storm Damage, was published by Tupelo Press. Melissa’s poems and prose have appeared in numerous publications such as The American Poetry Review, The New York Times, Free Inquiry, Women’s Studies Quarterly, Poets for Palestine (an anthology) and others. Melissa ran the Barrow Street Reading Series for its eight years of existence (1994–2002), has been an editor of the journal Barrow Street since it was established in 1998 and is a trustee of Barrow Street, Inc.