I used to have sex dreams

Now I have debt dreams.

“You’ve won a contest

sweepstakes prize for

entering/answering/existing.

Take our money

Take it all

Take it for you.”

How tasty, what I would do

to that bulge of bills.

One by one

the slow

satisfying click on

pay account balance in full.

Music makes the mood

that smooth R&B

unwinds while I’m on hold

for Meg from billing.

Like loosening tense muscles

each past due relaxes

then falls away.

Gentle taps on the banking app

grow my desire

deepen the pressure

the push and pull of

creditors —           firm and demanding

me —         flexible and coy

Yes yes

Yes, I’ll chat with a representative.

Yes, I’ll give them what they’re after.

But they need to work

hard as keystrokes

                                    while they twist a paperclip

                                    in bargain business casual

dreaming of PTO.