A Van

The garden 

Has

A million dollar view -

     And gophers

She advised getting 

A snake !

     Good idea -

Says I -

A gopher snake. 

But where would one 

Purchase one ? 

She lives in her van 

Hassled by the cops -

They took her liscense -

So now she can't drive -

But 

She still lives 

     In her van 

Waiting for 

Section 8

Which is what they call

Government assistance -

     With housing 

It will be federal, 

     She says, 

So she can move 

     Anywhere 

And she doesn't feel guilty,

     She says 

For taking taxpayer money 

     She's had eight children -

One's a doctor 

But 

She doesn't want to rely 

On them 

It reminds me 

I must begin 

The yearly test 

In mathematics 

Which they call 

Taxes - here

She's bought 

     A little dog -

On social security

     With no rent to pay

She has money

More than you 

Or I 

I worked so hard

For so long

For this old house 

     Only to watch it crumble 

Slowly -

Unable to afford 

To fix it 

Sometimes I wish 

I had a van 

To sleep in