The Bag

The bag Midnight pickup Roll-up door My car gleams Across the floor Lights still burning Radio dead Fluorescent humming Over my head I call out once No reply Then something dark Catches my eye By the rear wheel, Small and black: An open zipper A leather bag I kneel down I take a peek Hundreds folded, Crisp and neat Rent past due Card maxed out Every dollar Starts to shout. Take it? Leave it? Call the cops? You’ll never see it! Tell the truth? And stay in debt! Not easy yet Is it a chance? Is it a trap? Take the cash And don’t look back? The bag The bag Stack on stack Should I run Or put it back? The bag The bag Rent paid fast Lucky break Or final act? Stay or stray? Drive away? Take it! Put it back! Take it! Could be payroll Could be dope Could be someone’s Last thin hope Could be ransom Could be mob Could be one Very dirty job No cameras That I can see No witnesses Except for me Rent on Friday Card declined Ethics soften When cash looks kind Finders keepers? Children’s talk Still, that much money Can make saints walk Police take pictures Seal the door Call it evidence I’m broke once more Metal creaks A tool drops One slow footstep Then it stops! Back-room door Handle bends Now the moral Question ends Is it a chance? Is it a trap? Take the cash And don’t look back? The bag The bag Stack on stack Should I run Or put it back? The bag The bag Rent paid fast Lucky break Or final act? Stay or stray? Drive away? Bag in my lap Key in hand One more step From where I stand Call out again? Wait right here? One more footstep Much too near Choose! Door behind me Key goes in No goodbye Engine spins Bag beside me Foot goes down No more waiting Out of town Was it a chance? Was it a trap? I took the cash No turning back The bag The bag Stack on stack Now two headlights On my back The bag The bag Heartbeat fast Lucky break Or final act? No place to stay Drive away Left turn They turn! Right lane No police No name Just the bag And those lights The bag The bag