A cold draft whisks through the open window Pungent odours waft through the kitchen I don’t mention the after smell Like a party gone sour That seeps into jackets and sweaters I don’t mention the after dishes When bowls and pans teeter in the sink…

For $2000 a month I live in a closet With shabby windows the cold creeps in during the winters And the heat assaults its way in on summer days I’m either bundled up or lounging in underwear The rat is the worst of it Beady…