Everyday's The Same (Poetry)

( A Single Mother’s Lament)

Baby wakes around
6am or so
yells to let me know
his wall-piercing sound
gets complaints. I go

stumbling down the hall
(him stuck to my breast)
dazed from lack of rest
hear the giro fall
on the mat — it’s all

I can do to eke
my allowance out
and there’s little doubt
more rent due this week
sees the landlord shout —

threaten to evict
even though he knows
how the story goes
the old lech turns strict
and a cold wind blows ...

Every day’s the same
if I got a job
childminders would rob
me blind. So I claim —
use my maiden name