Demographics
Robert Beveridge
Those who collect numbers
for government agencies count
people, count rooms, count
closets and sinks and beds
and from these numbers, conclude.
The census taker who sees three people
in a house, two sinks, three beds,
may assume a guest room, a separation,
polyamory; any of these likely
to elicit a “yes” when asked
to stay for dinner. Government
food vouchers only go so far.
Robert Beveridge makes noise (xterminal.bandcamp.com) and writes poetry just outside Cleveland, OH. Recent/upcoming appearances in Chiron Review, Guide to Kulchur, and Third Wednesday, among others.