Poverty Proof

wavering wages
keeping you barely above water
constant warningreminder you're not wading
and all frivolous without forms
questionnaires in clinics
because your hardened exoskeleton isn't urgent for emergency
figuring your EFC on your FAFSA
can't do that without filing and
even if you file, that doesn't mean you can FAFSA
food stamps, family planning, free or
reduced lunch. reduced literacy.
and even with literacy, with literacy for forms for EFC
that's your expected family contribution.
but even with--you need proof
you must wait. that's how you're differentiated.
long lines, long tape
discriminate
and when you get to the beginning
mocking pride to
prove your poverty.
and when you don't have the forms
you never documented your documents
you prove your poverty.