the girl chose the path of the loyal and just
scrambling through infinite yards
muddy forest floor and slippery rocks
thorns and angry insects claimed her blood
she arrives covered in cobweb and mud
the man paid a local guide good money
for the 3D map of shortcuts
he reaches the summit first
without breaking a sweat
strutting left and right
trumpeting in thrill of victory
I won he declares and points down the valley
that’s all mine now no one else’s
better yet
a whisper’s promising more
she points at the hicks toiling for the daily bread
shrinking paycheck
antenna TV
utility bills
children crawling to bed every night unfed
knowing the easy answer the man beams wisdom
squeezing more out of the stone is the name of the game
as it always was and shall forever remain