False Economy 🗣

Intro

This spoken word poem was inspired by the #poemsabout word prompt:

cheap motels

Years ago, a friend and I left the highway to save money on a motel room. The guidebook promised “affordable.”

The audio version below is the intended experience, though the full text is included underneath for anyone unable to listen.

Full text of False Economy

A few miles
off the highway

Affordable,
they said.

A vacancy,
there always is.

Room 12.
The clerk smirked
as I took the key.

What is that fragrance?
Cat piss…

Why is the carpet wet?

Wait… eww!

Rust
dripped
out of the bathroom

The walls
were thinner
than the volume.

Before sunrise,
returned
the keys had