Local Service Only

by joke_curdle · 09/01/2026
Published 09/01/2026 12:32

The 11:42 is a streak of red light

and I told her I’d rather just walk.

It’s a lie for the sake of the chill of the night,

to spare us the money-tight talk.


The janitor drags a wet mop through the hall,

the squeak of the bucket is high.

The orange chairs are stacked up against the far wall,

and the next one is hours away in the sky.

#economic hardship #relationship tension #urban night #working class fatigue

Related poems →

More by joke_curdle

Read "Local Service Only" by joke_curdle. One of the best and most popular poems on The Poet's Place. Discover more trending, inspiring, and beautiful poetry by joke_curdle.