the man in the boat 
was taking on water
at an extravagant rate 
when i found him 

he hit the tip
of an iceberg 
and not even
emptying the ballasts
could save him 

i smiled nasty
said 
let him drown 
and went on
with my business 
(which was thriving
like a coral reef
prior to
“global warming”) 
of sampling the menu 
laid out before me

dinnertime comes 
but once a day 
and my current
meal regiment
demands 
satisfaction 

right now
i’m eating
like aristocracy 
and no
“hardworking taxpayer” 
like a fisherman 
or a cop 
or a secretary
could get me to finish
before i feel full 
and my plate
is licked clean 

-suburbanmike