COUNTY BUILDING

Thank God for the county building.

Thank God for the days I stood in those lines.

May I never forget them.

Waiting.

Watching the clock as babies cry.

As mommas curse.

As they talk on their Metro phones.

iPhones.

Everybody talking.

Some quietly thinking.

Workers silently judging.

One baby on hip, one in hand, one baking in belly.

And Momma don’t know what to do with none of them.

Baby girl looking up to Momma.

But Momma is looking to anybody to show her how to be.

Waiting in these lines to eat.

To shop.

To sell my stamps so I can pay my phone bill to talk.

Waiting.

Paperwork.

School forms turned in each month.

Lying about knowing who my baby daddy is so they won’t tax him with child support.

When he the reason I’m standing in this line waiting.

Lord, don’t let me ever forget the days I stood in the county lines.