Petty Theft

I steal thumbtacks and loose

screws.

Sidle up to

bulletin boards

feel the plastic knob,

the cool metal spike

between my fingers

curl it into my palm to pierce

and tingle

as “An Army of ONE”

drifts to the floor to join

“Make Money from Home, No MLM.”

I scan the hallway,

searching for screws

rattling slightly loose

in the walls and

fixtures

to twist

stealthily

one by one by one,

until I feel them

fall

cold

into my hand.

With pockets full of

spiteful steel

biting into my thigh

I creep away,

satisfied.