Chilled

Chilled

An old lady,
neither aspiring or acquiring,
sat at the edge of eternity
in the lobby of subsidized housing
and exclaimed to anyone
who would listen, that:

          The world has turned to shit.

          It wasn't always that way.
          There was a time
          when the country was great.

          Before the war
          and the suburbs sprawled
          like milk spilled on Linoleum.

          Before this
          internet thing,
          and TV violence.

          I hate traffic.
          Congestion subdues my patience,
          and children make me nervous.

          I need peace and quiet.

          The immigration problem
          keeps me awake
          at night,
          but sedatives make me loopy.

          You'll understand
          when you're my age,

          and always cold.