this is not a poem.

what is it i can’t live without?

according to

maslow’s hierarchy of needs

the correct answers could be any of the following;

air

food

water

shelter

warmth

sex

sleep.

but saying

‘i can’t live without x, y, and z’

lacks the cadence and pseudo-existentiality

that this contest requires.

i do value surviving

it’s what makes all this possible-

but living requires more depth.

this broken prose, however heartfelt and true,

is just an example of

exploiting my sub-par labor for monetary gain in order to subsist.

and, y’know, that’s perfectly okay.

i mean, you’re helping us, for heaven’s sake!

if i want to live my life then i definitely need-- ah, there's the rub!

i need people like you to help me pay for my education

yes, yes it's much clearer now.

without it, i could be the third generation without a college degree

without it, i might go into my thirties drowning in college debt.

now, that hardly seems like living, don’tcha think?

the black ink of my college acceptance letter hardens into steel

the second i sign on the dotted line.

you are keeping me alive

you are filling this beaten, disenfranchised generation of broken hearts

with a sense of courage and hope.

naturally, i know this seems like a copout.

blowing hot air up your proverbial skirt

and, sure, maybe it is.

but hey, it’s not the 10th poem recounting the value of friendship or family

not that there’s anything wrong with that

they have their value system, and i have mine.

i just can’t live without some freaking help paying for college

that's just all there is to it.