Free Food

© Elizabeth Larrabee

Have you ever stood in line

at the commissary on Rantoul Street,

the storefront

where depression-poor people

picked up grapefruit,

eggs, butter, cheese?

Leftovers.

Well, Mama and Papa weren't so happy

about having to take a hand-out

from the government

but to tell the truth

I looked forward

to Thursday afternoons.

And holding Papa's hand in

the long line.

Waiting to see if perhaps

there might be?

Oranges.

© Elizabeth Larrabee

Earliest Recall | Lady Slippers | How Poor Were We? | Free Food

The Smaller The Bigger | Mud Flats | Speaking of Smells | Random Pieces

Growing Up the Hard Way  | No Bogey Man | Green Apples | Poor Buster

Up and Down | True Friends | Moving | Rosie's Hangout | Crystal Ball

You weren't so Hot After All | Haunts | On Acting the Way You Feel | Amen

E-Mail Liz Larrabee