First Edit: My Friend Back Home

[Tiger the Lion]

Hey Richard, I like this. Some thoughts below..

My Friend Back Home

My friend’s face
is dirty with worry great start.  - I might consider a semi-colon after 'worry' and strike 'while' - just me
while he says the word
layoff
as if it’s inevitable like death. I think you need a comma after 'inevitable' - if not a line break

He says he won’t leave
his home,
and all I can do is nod.

His dreams from here it gets abstract. What are the dreams? 
are trapped
beneath the ground
slowly suffocating,
his hope
will become
a widow,
and I,
at a safe distance,
am nothing
but a bystander.

I think the ending is sound but is weakened by the generic and abstract "dreams". A litlle nugget of what makes your friend tick would complete this further. 

Thanks for the read Richard, I enjoyed it,
Paul