Shutoff

My mouth tastes 

like yesterday 

and this morning 

had a party 

of the century

all cause 

the construction man

was in a fight with 

the city man

and the city man

had it up to here 

with the law man 

and the law man 

was in a bit of a pickle 

with the rich man

and the rich man’s rich friend 

so the law man 

told the city man

to do a rush job

and the city man

cut a few corners 

so no one gave me a notice 

so here I was 

quarter to ten

hollerin’ and carryin’ on

at the construction man

who could only give me an apology

and a business card

and I told them people 

they should’ve just hired 

that nice Black lady 

with the fancy degrees

and sharp pant suits

and I’m not saying 

she would’ve fixed everything 

but at least 

when I went home

to cut on the news 

I’d be one belly short

of another rich man’s scheme