Poetry is not a luxury

A poem inspired by Joy Harjo

Photo by Andreas Wagner on Unsplash

DESP
COMPAR 0.001 REIT
CUSIP 29444U700
“Need the cost basis…”
The accountant’s words
raise fear in me.
They slide off,
find no purchase.
I can’t
grasp them.
They are senseless,
of course.
But more than that.
They hurt, they burn
me.