Carole Mertz has poems in various online publications. Her reviews, essays, and short stories appeared in Arc Poetry Magazine, Ascent Aspirations, Conium Review, Copperfield Review, CutBank, Mature Years, Mom Egg, Toasted Cheese, Women on Writing, Working Writer, World Literature Today, With Painted Word, WPWT, and in Seek Publications. Two poems won Wilda Morris’ Poetry Challenges, Summer, 2015. Carole writes in Parma, OH.
HARD TIMES
He likes to hold his temper in the face of adversity
even though his hours are reduced
and Mellie’s moving away.
Now Gregor no longer takes morning coffee with him.
Even though his hours are reduced,
the manager hovers over him;
now Gregor no longer takes morning coffee with him.
He knew the night shift would be long—
the manager hovers over him.
Somehow the mortgage will get paid.
He knew the night shift would be long
since the woman became CEO.
Somehow the mortgage will get paid—
and Mellie’s moving away.
Since the woman became CEO
he likes to hold his temper in the face of adversity.
“Hard Times” first appeared in Blue Collar Review, Fall, 2015 (Partisan Press)
EMPTY CANISTERS OF THE WORLD
Men hold guns at captives’ heads,
hire guards to do the dirty work.
Governments starve the populace
in the name of a dark and greedy god.
Is it any wonder the playgrounds are empty?
Mothers fail to shield the lips of thirsty offspring
from cups of deception and delusion.
Children rise in protest,
stifled over and over again—
Is it any wonder the playgrounds are empty?
Man’s inhumanity to man strikes
imbalances not easily set aright.
Failed efforts reek of stale, empty canisters.
Devoid of hope, our young men become impotent.
Is it any wonder the playgrounds are empty?
~Carole Mertz