“Unmarked Bills”
by Bill Ward
2000
I got a letter from the bank today.
It was a ransom note.
They have kidnapped my livelihood.
They could have snipped out words
From newspapers and magazines
Pasting them on pages
With their corporate letterhead.
Or, demanded unmarked bills
In a brown leather briefcase
Left in a phone booth
On Main Street.
But the bank doesn’t have to do that.
Their computer just spits out
One threatening note after another,
Demanding tribute
On behalf of my most dreaded,
Mortal enemy —
Myself.
© 2000 William R. Ward
All Rights Reserved
October 7, 2000, 3:45 PM
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