Helium

 Hear this, you that trample on the needy,
and bring to ruin the poor of the land,
saying, "When will the new moon be over
so that we may sell grain;
and the sabbath,
so that we may offer wheat for sale?
We will make the ephah small and the shekel great,
and practice deceit with false balances,
buying the poor for silver
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
and selling the sweepings of the wheat."
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:
Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
- Amos 8:4-7

I am the woman who bought your swept up wheat

and fed my toddler dirt and chaff cereal

I bought your tainted formula with poison filler

I used my dwindling public food aid for your inflated urban milk

When the great rising comes and we lowly are lifted first

your eyes will widen white in panic as you stay grounded

rushing to shed your wealth like ballast as I and my children

float up above your head in our promised privileged freedom

and you will wonder if I of all proximal people

would let you grab my heel as I become your helium balloon

and in my singing joy I give you my gracious motherly yes