Poem: Wally World

Wally World

By Starling Root
QuailBellMagazine.com

Welcome to 5929 Georgia Ave. NW, where the uniform is a royal blue polo
and a yellow smiley face sticker, plus sneakers bought at that very store.
This is a retail giant but he doesn’t go by Goliath and forget about David.
His brother lives at 77 H St. NW, but he is no more the economic messiah.

{Refrain:}
We need a living wage, mama. Whatchya gonna do, papa? Money, money.
Can’t lose my SE 3BR, mama. Been there too long, papa. Money, money.
“This is not your daddy’s Walmart,” shouted Buzzfeed before Christmas.
Believe Buzzfeed, amiright? Believe Buzzfeed—except Walmart’s Walmart.
Long hours/too few hours, low pay, and employee benefits are for dreamers.
Sorry you’re a single mother of four with a GED and no career in sight.

{Refrain:}
We need a living wage, mama. Whatchya gonna do, papa? Money, money.
Can’t lose my SE 3BR, mama. Been there too long, papa. Money, money.
Mayor Vincent Gray led the ribbon-cutting ceremony like an animatronic,
real but unreal, the grin and grimace of a Jim Henson puppet circa 1982.
This is a political move. This is a financial move. This move will save D.C.

“Dear Chairman Mendelson:
Today I am vetoing Bill 20-62, the ‘Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2013.’”
…
“The bill is not a true living-wage bill.” “The bill is a job-killer.”
“The bill will affect far more retailers than many supporters think.”
“The bill doesn’t guarantee good-paying jobs for District residents.”
“The bill does nothing to help underserved parts of the District.”
“The bill will deal a huge blow to economic development.”

{Refrain:}
We need a living wage, mama. Whatchya gonna do, papa? Money, money.
Can’t lose my SE 3BR, mama. Been there too long, papa. Money, money.