SAME OLD CINDERELLA

You know that same old, same old

undocumented immigrant waiting

from sun up to sundown

county clinic nephrologist makes the elderly Hispanic lady wait in her wheelchair

until dialysis is a mute point.

You know that same old, same old

knee to the neck cop

he can’t breath

don’t dare take a knee

Confederate flag flap over the field.

Same old, same old

corporate bailout bonus distribution before Chapter 11

Cinderella gets a dirty, torn rag for a mask

snaking breadline and a three month wait for a test

fat and happy stepsisters rock the house in their N95s

their white knights on a Quest with their Blue Shields

pay Beverly Hills labs out of pocket.

Quarantinis at the ball by the pool with DJ Francis

Cinderella washes towels and disinfects appetizer trays under stepmother’s watchful eye

She will be out of a job

EDD won’t pay

with her borrowed Social Security number.

She goes home

savin’ all her food stamps

she’s hitting the rage point

burnin' down country clubs and

the sex offender-only trailer park.

You know that same old, same old

black crows sew Cinderella a silk mask with yellow ribbon ties

fairy godfather Post Malone downs a Bud Light

his pumpkin turns into a Rolls doing donuts in the Vegas desert party on the strip

until ICE arrives.

Cinderella shivers under a Mylar blanket COVID-19 running like Post’s beer

prince leaves glass slippers and rotting pumpkin housing

in the dark ICE parking lot

The prince takes off in his muscle car spraying gravel.

Same old, same old Cinderella.