Newly Indentured Servants Poem by Jacqueline Czel

We watched him drown
out his frustration and fears
in way too many tall, dark beers
and preach to the choir in the bar.
Like everyone else, he works
and mostly pays his own way
but the BIG bill come due has it's say
and takes half of what he earns,
so he drinks himself silly while
lamenting he can't go back home.
He's been out of school for a
year and is indentured to
his massive student loan
and he can't marry A___ now
because they'll never be able
afford a wedding or buy a home
and they can't stop to have kids,
because she's got a huge, higher
education debt just like his.