CASH ADVANCE

9 years ago

I ruined my credit

taking cash advances

to buy drugs



for 9 years

I couldn’t rent movies,

get cars, reserve anything,

or get a bank account





fast forward 9 years

and I’m taking out my second

$100 cash advance

on the same day

for the same problem



in nine years,

my hair has greyed and started to recede,

I’ve put on a bit of weight,

I've gone through a number of jobs,

I had children and got married



and in 9 years

I’ve managed to learn nothing

from my mistakes



I enter in my pin number and

the bank machine asks me,

$100 withdrawal?



I stare at NO

and enter YES



in another 9 years

I may not have this option again.

Poem by Owen Roberts