stands in her way
she can’t afford to pay
this outrageous price
to make nice the lives of
these therapists
who sit in the chair half-asleep
deep in thought about something else
not paying attention
to the hurt she’s projecting
and the heavy drinking that nulls
those raging voices
inside her skull
beneath the puffed-up bozo hair
and heavy makeup and flair
is a very lonely woman
whose health insurance doesn’t cover
the cost of mental health
the system’s flawed
as much as its shrinks
it stinks
and to stop this pain
all she does is drink
nips for 99 cents
is cheaper
than any prescription
and helps with
this affliction
until –
there’s a better health care system