The Life of a Grad Student in Economics

8.5 hours

   into a 17 hour work day,

after scheduling an overdue potty break-

          and finding myself,

     lightheaded,

           standing in front

of the only vending machine,

    balancing $1.85 of scavenged change

reverently in my palm;

    and performing

a mental cost/ benefit analysis:

  comparing protein and calories,

deciding, deciding.

       Today, sans time for lunch,

Reese's Pieces and Planter's Trail mix

     will sustain mind and body

         until dinner at 8.

Author's Note

to the respondent below: no, not at all bored. Completely broke, starving, overworked, and seeing life all in terms of the thing you are studying.

Reviews

[E.Gleaves]

ahhh the life of a student. I go through the same things lol. I love how you capture the moment. and the shifts in the lines of poetry can be representative of how your mind is shifting between thoughts. To get the candy bar or to not get the candy bar. You could take it further to snapshots (images) of different things around you juxtaposed with something as everyday as a bored college student going to the vending machine could make an extraordinary poem

[arbitrary jane]

every. little. moment.
is a poem.

[Jamie S.]

Nice choices, I would have thrown alittle chocolate there,lol. Love this little write, thank you for sharing and hang in there! :)

[Liza]

we eat to live...keep living - take care...

[Jenny Nelson]

As yes, says a lot. Quit fun and frantic. Well done.

[Emily B]

well-written, I felt like I was there, waiting for my turn at the only vending machine . . .