In The Red

you’ve worked so hard
from the farm to the factory
in the county & the city

you’ve always paid on time
for peace of mind
—your body as collateral
so you may rest & retire
when the time came
—knowing you’ll be fine

but somehow
you still owe today
& you are all out of body 

Copyright © 2020 by Huascar Medina. Originally published in Green Mountains Review (The American Poet Laureate Series - Edition 1 of  5, 2022). Used with the permission of the poet.