Shalom Freedman (Troy New York)

ASHAMED

Ashamed
To be at my age
Working at the bottom of the scale
For a minimum wage-
To be at my age
Without the fruits of a lifetime of work
A good pension-
To have to take orders
To have to give my time
To the small senseless tasks of another-
To be at my age
Ordered about-

To feel what a failure I am
What a nothing I am-
And to be wary
That others who know me
Will not see me in this position-
Ashamed of myself
And ashamed for being ashamed
And yet not wanting to quit
Fearing to be more ashamed at yet another failure-
Ashamed-