I see old people on pensions in the supermarkets and they are thin and they are proud and they are dying they are starving on their feet and saying nothing. long ago, among other lies, they were taught that silence was bravery. now, having worked a lifetime, inflation has trapped them. they look around steal a grape chew on it. finally they make a tiny purchase, a day’s worth. another lie they were taught: thou shalt not steal. they’d rather starve than steal (one grape won’t save them) and in tiny rooms while reading the market ads they’ll starve they’ll die without a sound pulled out of rooming houses by young blond boys with long hair who’ll slide them in and pull away from the curb, these boys handsome of eye thinking of Vegas and pussy and victory. it’s the order of things: each ones gets a taste of honey then the knife.