for what it’s worth
the homeless know nothing will change
standing at intersections begging for a dollar
standing in line at the shelter hoping for
a cot to sleep on and a place to take a shit in peace
know that at any minute they can be rousted
their few precious belongings trashed by the cops
when they need to disappear or be swept under the carpet
the poor people across the world know
the bombs and drones will keep hunting them down
kiss their kids every night as if it’s the last time
they are scarred with loss and trauma like the tattoos
of numbers on a weak and skinny wrist
or the U.S. serial number on a piece of shrapnel
the weapon designers know their products
will always be in demand no matter who wins
AI drones and robotic warriors sold to the highest bidder
because a gold coin
is a gold coin
is a gold coin
the politics of the land are about
ideas and promises
change and hope
our version is good
theirs is bad
the dreams they sell us
have deadly side effects
but we never read
the fine print
Richard Vargas earned his B.A. at Cal State University, Long Beach, where he studied under Gerald Locklin. He edited/published five issues of The Tequila Review, 1978-1980, and twelve issues of The Mas Tequila Review from 2010-2015. Vargas received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of New Mexico, 2010, where he workshopped his poems with Joy Harjo. A sixth book, The Screw City Poems, was released in July 2025, Roadside Press. He currently resides in the hometown of Cheap Trick and legendary porn star Ginger Lynn. https://www.richardvargaspoet.com/
