[the Writing of Kuypers] [JanetKuypers.com] [Bio] [Poems] [Prose]
tried to get a job at the mall
applied for a job in a strip store
is that I answered the questions honestly
when they ask if you’ve ever done drugs
even applied for a job in a liquor store
but not in stocking bottles
so someone said that the government
they need you to walk the streets,
and I thought, I’m organized
and a government job would be sweet
and it would be funny to say
so I got on line, learned about the census
making a list, checking it twice
as sick as it sounds,
so I called to schedule my evaluation,
found out I wasn’t even on the map
but I took the test anyway,
I thought about the records
of the men they executed
I thought about the detailed Nazi records
and how we had to come in
and I thought
I never was called from the cencus bureau
“you filled out your forms
and I thought
maybe I shouldn’t have applied for this job
maybe they knew I shouldn’t be a part of their system
All rights reserved. No material
Counting Bodies
Janet Kuypers
4/15/10
they never returned my call
I filled out the form, but my problem
it’s best to lie
now, I have experience in drinking
or cleaning liquor store floors
was looking for employees
ask questions, keep records
I work hard, I can do this
they pay really well
that I was a government employee
all I’d be doing was walking around
I’d be in charge of counting the bodies
it has a certain ring to it
went to the government building early
they looked for employees from
struck the icicles as I left for my car
the Greek Kings, the Greek government kept
of Jews working in camps, of Jews gassed
and count the bodies
hmmm
it was like they knew my mind:
we don’t need you for anything else”
hmmm
maybe I shouldn’t be working for the government
falling into line and counting bodies
Copyright © 2010 Janet Kuypers.
may be reprinted without express permission.
