who decided it to be just
that we sell our needs
heat and air and water
neatly processed each month

who decided it just for
the man holding the valve
to push down hardest on
those already broken backs
how tragic he says
and presses more and more

you can’t convince me
that this is the only way

have you, the battery
been without light
spent nights unsure if
your core would become full

no amount of blind love
for stars and stripes
and red and white
will ever make me feel wanted

when you put a price on living
somewhere that profits
from your slow, uncaring
death.