The Library of Congress

   
Poem Number 95

A snood is a hair net for women.

From On Being Fired Again

Erin Belieu

I've known the pleasures of being
fired at least eleven times-

most notably by Larry who found my snood
unsuitable, another time by Jack,
whom I was sleeping with. Poor attitude,
tardiness, a contagious lack
of team spirit; I have been unmotivated

squirting perfume onto little cards,
while stocking salad bars, when stripping
covers from romance novels, their heroines
slaving on the chain gang of obsessive love-

and always the same hard candy
of shame dissolving in my throat;

handing in my apron, returning the cash-
register key. And yet, how fine it feels,
the perversity of freedom which never signs
a rent check or explains anything to one's family...

 

from One Above & One Below, 2001
Copper Canyon Press

Copyright 2001 by Erin Belieu.
All rights reserved.
Reproduced with permission (click for permissions information).