Where I Could Stay

The family had just finished eating

green beans  gray light entered through

windows it was our last house

of the day the man waved us in

without a fuss your union is here

he called upstairs he drove a truck

to Portland each day it’s impressive you are 

here my own union

never comes don’t you think

I deserve a raise? he was holding

a manuscript in his handshe was handing me

his book  he had been raised

in the city near meI believed him

when he said to initiate kindness

is a risk life is nothing

without trusthis wife finally came

downstairstalk of the union

progressed      I could not stop looking

at their houseI want to live

here, I thought this could be

where I stay