April's Curse

Negative spring/April poem. An expansion on T.S. Eliot's famous quotation, "April is the cruelest month" from The Waste Land.

The snow melts to reveal sad assortments of garbage

Strewn along the sidewalks like a dirty bricolage

The geese occupy our emptying quad

Each is a blessed sign from your god

The early bird rises far before the dawn

Bragging in bird-tongue about his perfect lawn

Global warming shows its ugly face

And the weather becomes a temperamental disgrace

Moving trucks and vans headed toward the interchange

Each summer my peers look forward to happy change

To work or not to work, that is the question

But often work is more than just a suggestion

April is the time of transitions

The time of decisions

Moving from brain to body

From student to entry-level nobody

It’s nice work if you can get it

But every year I forget it

Wait until the last minute

Get hired just in time to quit

Exams and singing

Farewells and resume printing

Interviews and bargaining

All these things remind me of spring

Longing glances across the fluorescent lights of the store

I long with everything I have for him to cross the floor

Every year we interact but nothing more 

But every year I hope the power goes out so I can be his w***e

Well, roll up your sleeves

It’s time to produce!

Five months away from the tuition-grabbing thieves

So there’s absolutely no excuse!

Author's Note

Negative spring/April poem. An expansion on T.S. Eliot's famous quotation, "April is the cruelest month" from The Waste Land. My take on April as a university student, retail worker and singer.

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

April is the time of transitions

The time of decisions
A nice write...

[Naomi Bloom]

Thank you!

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome... :)