Standing at the counter
Of the emergency room
Trying to get help
For her ailing husband
Clutching his chest.
It happened suddenly,
He was sent home from
His landscaping job
When the pain had
Become unmanageable.
The paperwork makes
No sense to her,
Her fifth grade daughter
Deciphers as much
As she can.
They hold each other’s
Hands and their
Own breaths,
Waiting for his
Name to be called.
Outrageous
Injustice,
Plain to see
To everyone but
The transgressors
Who perpetuate
Maltreatment.
Indifferent
To the plight,
Pain, systematic
Violation faced by
People who
Have never had
Another choice.
Create a narrative of
Fear and urgency.
Demonize
Your opponents.
Make them
An other.
Extol your
Virtue and superiority.
Pander to
Base instincts.
Carry out the plan
Mercilessly.
With a
Straight
Doughy
Face,
He looks at
The cameras
And tells
Another lie
To cover for
His real agenda,
Projecting his
Own intentions
On his opponents,
Stealing
From the poor to
Give to the rich.
Right around this time
Every year, they
Gather toys for
The children of
The less fortunate,
Sometimes coats and
Sundry clothing,
Perhaps some food.
It fills them with
A sense of magnanimity,
Doing something good
For others.
The remainder of the year,
In daily conversation,
At the ballot box,
They believe in
And vote for the
Very people and policies
That create the need.
Spreading fear
With impunity,
Imposing the will of
A scared
Authoritarian
Patriarchy
Through force.
Relentless campaign of
Intimidation
Waged by baton,
Overwhelmingly targeting
Minorities and
Disenfranchised
Human beings who dare
Protest the status quo.
Shills for those who
Resent any
Opposition
To their power.
Acclimated to
Doing whatever
They desire,
Disingenuously complaining
That there is no talent
To be found and
Positions are going
Unfilled, conveniently
Not mentioning that they’re
Absolutely thrilled that
They can get away with
This duplicitous ruse,
Making their existing
Workers do more while
Leaving jobs open that
Formerly fed families.
She woke up, looked outside,
Went to the kitchen where she
Prepared a pot of tea,
Settled into her favorite chair,
The birds outside flitting about
Without a care in the world,
And continued thinking about
What had happened.
Using huge numbers of
Temporary workers in order
To not have to hire them
Through their own companies and
Take on the responsibility of
Nurturing an employee.
Behemoth temp firms
Colluding to rig the system,
Covert and overt disdain for
Honest working people
Just trying to make it
Against the odds.
