Outsourced
by Joe Depczynski

Today I said to sell the car,
yesterday the bike.
Wednesday I told you
we have no money.
The mortgage will go unpaid.
Mom works like a slave,
her eyes have gone dark,
her skin pale,
and I think her soul has been boxed away
like all the Christmas ornaments.
Where is my oldest son?
He left this husk behind.
Where is my youngest son?
Drugs are a powerful thing.
My middle?
Dad, I’m right here. Now put the gun away.

Joe is a student at Southeast Missouri State University. His work can be found on http://writefromwrong.com/, an when he isn’t lost in textbooks, he’s thinking about touring the country on a motorcycle.