Canned

 The grounds a carpeted in cherry petals 

Precursor of pit harder than metal 

The sky sunshine blue make my heart swoon 

For the succulent dish that trees give bloom 

        *** 

A long coldwet morn that's what's in store 

I get out my fiddle to play my chore 

Making some dough that's on my agenda 

As the union passes handbills the color magenta 

    ***

There's trouble at the co op, the boss from Wyoming  

Walks his dog round the food a leash on a leash pretending 

Control isn't too down to members who built 

Every day stock cans, boxes, produce without guilt 

        *** 

What's the reward just ten laid off 

The shelves half bare with the empty time cough

The security guard hovers not over the registers box

But over the canned workers grievant hard knocks

         *** 

I took back to the store the bbtwas purchased 

It's not my style here's my receipt I'm no conscript 

I got back my cash, spent it on beer 

Out of harms way, loaded with cheer 

      *** 

Cheer up you cherry

There's birds on the way 

Love get loaded with optimism sway  

Don't crack a tooth on speaking the truth 

El Paso we pass thru each moment uncouth  

Pitch in the long haul 

None said it's all berries

The spine and arms numbfrom 

Cantilevered poses  

Bruise not or blemish the strawberry skin 

Tom Joad still walks with a rucksack grin  

A tarpaper hovel that's more than enough 

To house the betterhalfs stuff  

There's blame in the wind and confetti cloud anger 

Each buck a scissor the shopper dangles  

I'll park for a carrot and cafe olay my dry cleaning 

As shopping cart settlers do their gleaning  

Conscience is clear, I gave up a dollar 

To the slumped cardboard sign to ward off a holler 

My wine by the case and veal in white paper 

By most novels a conspicuous caper 

Do you know the tune desolation row 

Here's all my change have it a Gogh