C.L.LLOYD

the poetry.

Canadian poetry

  • DOWN AT THE FOOD BANK

    the lines are longand stretch downthe street. when you getinside, there’sa waiting roomwith chairs andfree books. all the booksare the self-helptype. titles like‘the power ofpositive thinking.’ boy, do we thinkpositively,as the ladiesfill our cart. two bags ofmacaroni,one box ofpowered mashpotatoes,three cans ofbeans. imagine thefeast! we makemagic out ofnon-perishables. walking back homethrough the slush,two bags undereach… Read more

  • WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

    the bills are piling up again, but that’s okay, we’ve been herebefore. old veterans of poverty,the highs when it’s good andthe fridge is half full, and the lightshave stayed on for weeks.and the lows, the lows,when the collection notices come,and the cupboards are bare,and you’ve got to decide betweenthe heat or the electric bill. it’s… Read more

  • A PLACE LIKE THAT

    some nights, wedrive uptowninto the privatecul-de-sacsand stare at the big houses.their windowsbright with theorange glowof finer things we trace ourfingertips overthe rooftopsuntil the tilesdissolve intothe midnightblue. and dream the way dreamersdo with anapartmentfit for two. i turn to youand say,“but whatwould we dowith a placelike that?”“we’d neverkeep up onthe cleaning,”you reply. we laugh, driving offlooking… Read more