Taken for Granted

What if all the people,
All of those we scoff at
Were to suddenly disappear?
What if every custodian
Was to suddenly vanish?
How high the dust would pile,
Those busybodies in their offices
Too self-absorbed to notice.
Then the computers short-circuit.
Then they lose money.
Then they notice.
What if every garbageman
Suddenly vaporized?
How the smell would thicken,
Every child in their homes
Too uninspired to leave their rooms.
Then the rats come.
Then they must.
What if every gas station attendant
Could no longer be found?
How the vultures would line up,
Those privileged few
Too noble to pump their own gas.
And so they wait.
And wait.