the inept whore

the tree in her front  yard's dying
she flirts with  an arborist for weeks
but in the  end  lets smoke come between them

her house needs  screens, a lock, new  roof
waterproofing but every handyman slips
away  before even a closet  lightbulb's changed.

mechanics peer under  her hood
without  offering  advice, she  breaks
down on  the interstate truckers pass her by.



poets  want  to do  the singing
  musicians won't let her play
  she's  for hire   but  no one  pays.