A Lottery - District 97

I won the time and place lottery

I fell into the lap of luxury

And right away I knew

No sign of strife, no struggle to survive

I was a winner then

I’m still a winner now

I took the easy way but I still won

Nobody promised you a fair run

And if it were fair

Where would I be

If you caught up with me

And your shoes were mine

To walk in all my life

When I get a little taste of the life you lead

Death grip on my greed

Wants are clearly needs

Clearly

It’s always smiles that hurt the most

And I think to myself, maybe that’s arrogant

You work so hard, end up with nothing

And I’ve got the world, I’m skating by

No need to try

I won long before we were even born

It’s wrong, I know, and I’m sorry it has to be this way

I looked into the eyes of the have-nots

I saw where they call home in a little box

I even got a feel for where I’d be

If it were him, not me, only passing by

Leaving me to die

When I got a bigger taste

Of the life you lead

Something died in me

For the better

I’m changing