Penniless

[Bastard Child]

Penniless
in pitiless
City of Churches -
how cold the sun
and bleak
and weak.

Happiness
and kindness
are reserved for those
who can afford it -
I borrow
no sorrow.

Penniless
and worthless
in the pocket
of faceless creditors:
I’m mint-
flavoured lint.

Happiness
is joyless
need carved over ages
on the brain:
Optimistic
anesthetic.

Penniless
in Metropolis,
I seek a friendly face
in the crowd,
in the rain,
in vain.

Happiness
is sickness
disease and fever,
and breeds hope-
maggots
and rots.