it stared them in the face As if daring them to be rid of it it made a mockery of them every step of the way One garment day in and out in the midst of flashy Colors and spring like pastels It haunted them in the dark when power was out for lack of payment it taunted them as if daring them to do something about it and laughed in their faces when they sat motionless Unable to speak or refute its presence Unable to move or break from its crippling effect breaking them in pieces night after night when empty refrigerators stared them in the dark It called out to them in the night when stomachs rumbled and tiny tummies ached from hungry days and starved nights that had Lost count and begun to feel "normal" It made a mockery of them as a whole And individually from…