Working Hard for the Money

by Weems, Mary E.; Smith, Larry; Anderson, Maggie; Budbill, David; Coleman, Wanda; Lang, Jim

• ISBN13: 9780933087774
• ISBN10: 0933087772
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Bottom Dog Pr

Summary

Poetry. Fiction. Art. Subtitled "America's Working Poor in Stories, Poems, and Photos." Contributors to this volume come from all over the U.S., bringing to their writing diverse experiences involving community work or lived experience with social challenge. In her "Recipe for Wanda Coleman" contributor Coleman writes: "Take 18 years in the racist Los Angeles School System during the 50's-60's, add a thatch of hair that always goes back to Africa and a body that bursts all seams, stir in a tablespoon of allergic dermatitis, a pinch of honesty, a cup of chopped integrity and a half pint of Edgar Allen Poe." Contributors include Paul Allen, Mary E. Weems, Larry Smith, A.D. Winans, Victoria Rivas, and more.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 7
Long Story	p. 14
The Coming Revolution
How the Poor Are Kept Poor	p. 19
Title Panel for Photo and Interview Exhibit	p. 21
Interview 1: Veteran, Teamster, Homeless Student
Interview 3: Machinist
Interview 2: Work Study Student
Work and Its Malcontents	p. 33
The Coming Revolution	p. 45
Grief and Happiness
Sorrow Knows this Dress/Mississippi Moonshine	p. 49
My Parents: Snoring	p. 51
Felon	p. 52
Dry Creek Runs Wet in Winter	p. 54
Sick Child	p. 55
Tis Morning Makes Mother a Killer	p. 62
Nora's Needs	p. 63
Withoutfits	p. 70
When Cheri's Father Was Crazy	p. 71
Uneasy Death	p. 72
Ronald Reagan Cheese	p. 73
Brothers: Grief and Happiness	p. 74
A Gift Of Cookies	p. 75
You Do The Work
where the poems are	p. 85
Simple Pleasures / 25 Down	p. 86
American Crawl	p. 89
The Waitress at the Waffle Shop	p. 91
Fault Lines	p. 92
Fly Away	p. 97
Car Broke Down	p. 98
Sundae	p. 99
Bad	p. 100
Newcastle Bar & Grill / Espresso Jerk	p. 101
Bowling Alleys	p. 103
Nocturnal Birds	p. 104
Mornings Outside the Boiler Room / Larry and Jim	p. 115
Before the August Dawn / Mr. Merckle	p. 116
Doubles	p. 118
Half	p. 121
Day Labor	p. 122
After Ginsberg	p. 123
CA Redemption / Grass Isn't Mowed on the Weekends	p. 124
Shane's Produce	p. 127
You Do The Work	p. 129
Anson	p. 130
Farm Work / Working Class / From the Field	p. 133
On Factory Avenue	p. 136
Lions After Slumber	p. 137
Life On The Streets
Life On The Streets	p. 141
Ladybug, Ladybug	p. 143
On Telegraph Avenue / Good Afternoon	p. 144
Radar	p. 145
Solstice	p. 147
Crossroads	p. 148
Dan	p. 150
And the World Sparkled like Glittered Paper	p. 151
Exhibit After the Poetry Reading Welfare	p. 157
Cannery	p. 158
Disabled List
Union Meeting, 1959	p. 161
The Clearances	p. 162
The "Outhouse"	p. 164
Disabled List	p. 165
Graveyard Shift	p. 167
Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Strike 1999	p. 175
Dead-Loss	p. 177
Poem For a Friend in Prison	p. 187
Orizaba!	p. 190
The Miracle of the Northern Lights	p. 191
Grist For The Mill	p. 193
The Contributors	p. 194
The Editors	p. 202
Permissions	p. 203
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