The only wheel in the cage

The girl stands in the kiosk

Selling her valueless shit

She knows it’s back on the dole next month

The owner makes the payment on his SUV

Pays his mortgage

The bank manager’s happy

She can send her chart to head office

Everything’s in the green this time

But they’re closing the branch in March

It’s all in the corporate plan

School fees are a stretch

Sixty thousand salary and hand to mouth

She's giving them all she’s got

Collect the kids from tennis

Homework, dinner, bed and TV

When did she last watch Orion high in the winter sky?

The girl in the kiosk stares for a while

And switches back to her phone

I press 3 on the radio

Shostakovich

Frost is forming on the screen

People pass with trolleys 

Piled with bags, cases of wine

Christmas trees

Every year

Increased market share

Increased profit

Greater ROI, as promised

More with less

Less time

More stress

The kids are achieving good results

The fees are due next month

Head office will clear the staff announcement Tuesday week

Not a good time, but it has to be closed by April

Tiny feet drum in the wheel

Black pinprick eyes burn

Nose up

Christmas is in the air

Keep on running

What can you do?

It’s all you’ve ever known

Spinning, spinning

The only wheel in the cage