Tough
His shoulders never seemed so small,
Brute strength is no match for Pony's drama.
Being grownup is harder than it ever looked.
Darry used to think he was tough.
Good at everything from football to school,
Picking up girls with the boys on a Friday night
and drinking twice his bodyweight in beer.
He was the cool guy,
all round nice guy.
The guy with fists of steel,
and an easy laugh.
Sitting in the kitchen the morning after,
Red and black numbers stacked against them.
Wondering which undertaker,
would be the best to use.
Trying to figure out,
who you call about a plot.
The guilty feeling of opening a letter to Mr Curtis,
even when he wasn't there to see.
Not realising you have to pay for a TV licence.
Not realising the phone, electricity, oil and groceries,
get paid monthly.
Knowing you have to get your shit together,
when it's the social standing at the door.
They use fake words, like, well-being,
dependants and guardianship.
Powdery makeup and a red smile.
She makes him feel unprepared.
Like someone should scrub his face with a hankie.
She opens a paper file, and,
he feels like they're just one more
Fractured family.
A list lying on her desk.
But in the end,
one less kid in a home
suits them all.
It's the States' tight budget or
Darrys' meagre bank account.