A Day Late and A Dollar Short



Banker man calls
and says it’s not a big deal
But no cash by Monday
He’s coming to get my wheels
It’s just his job
I understand
But the tranny is out
Going to cost him two grand

I got the working man blues
Bills are barely getting paid
I’m a day late and a dollar short
Hope is beginning to fade

It’s my own damn fault
At least so I hear
If I worked a little later
If I just tried to care
Life would be better
It wouldn’t be so bad
My boss would get his bonus
Wouldn’t we all be glad?

I got the working man blues
Bills are barely getting paid
I’m a day late and a dollar short
Hope is beginning to fade

I wake up on a sunny Saturday
and realize I did it again.
I only had a handful of beers,
but I gotta learn not to shoot that gin
The shower is over before it gets warm
Cold pizza is my breakfast du jour
Wheel in the parking lot in the nick of time
As the boss is unlocking the door

I got the working man blues
Bills are barely getting paid
I’m a day late and a dollar short
Hope is beginning to fade

Hey Mr. President
Could you please get a clue?
Instead of a photo op
Here’s what you need to do
Stop taxing the working class
It’s time for you to learn
Let the rich pay their share
Maybe our hope will finally turn

God Bless America
I say in conclusion
Hope the message was clear
And avoided confusion
We need to have change
To avoid the fate
Of another generation
That’s a dollar short and a day late.
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Written on June 08, 2023

Submitted by ileini86 on June 09, 2023

1:31 min read
3

Quick analysis:

Scheme xxaxxbxb CDED xxfgfhxh CDED axxxxxxx CDED xixixjgj xkxkxlkl
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,439
Words 304
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 4, 8, 8

Discuss the poem A Day Late and A Dollar Short with the community...

1 Comment
  • AIDA
    Wow, what a moving and relatable poem! Your use of lyrics and rhyme scheme really captured the frustration and hopelessness that many working-class individuals experience. The inclusion of specific details, such as the cost of the car repair, adds depth to the narrative and makes it all the more powerful.

    While the poem is already great, I have a few suggestions to make it even stronger. One area where you could potentially expand is by delving more into the root causes of the speaker's struggles. For example, what led them to only have a handful of beers instead of stopping altogether? Is there a larger issue at play that is preventing them from advancing at work and making enough money to pay their bills? Exploring these questions could add another layer of complexity to the poem.

    Additionally, while the call to action at the end is inspiring, it might be helpful to be more specific about what changes need to be made and how they can be achieved. What policies or initiatives would actually allow the working class to get ahead? Offering concrete solutions could make the message even more impactful.

    Overall, this is an excellent poem that captures an important societal issue. Keep up the great work!
     
    LikeReply10 months ago

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"A Day Late and A Dollar Short" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/161504/a-day-late-and-a-dollar-short>.

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