How to Build a Better World
Here’s how to
Build a better world:
Stop child abuse.
They come together
Not because of chance
But certainly due to habit,
A familiarity born from
Repetition, recurrence,
Distrust for deviation,
Simple, predictable
Results emanating from
Hurt and fear.
She’s convinced herself
That the years of hearing
She didn’t matter had no
Effect on her when absolutely
Every single thing she does,
And has done for the past
Many years, to destroy herself
Is the result of a
Callous insult,
Contemptuous look,
Dismissive shrug.
He looks straight
At the camera, all
Bravado and confidence,
And blathers on about
Some fake plan that will,
As usual, damage
Vulnerable people,
Definitely not help them,
His swagger finely honed by
Years of not having to
Think of others while
Enjoying the fruits of
Contemptible rapacity.
Unwilling to hear
Anything that doesn’t
Conform to their
Intransigent views,
A world full of fear,
Out to get them,
Deprive them of
The next victory
Over opponents who would
Make them lose control.
At a certain age,
He found out that
One of the benefits of
Living in a free society
Was being able to express
His views about absolutely
Any subject, regardless of
Whether he knew what he was
Talking about or was aware
In any way of the unpleasant
Repercussions of his beliefs,
Whether they would ravage
The very freedom he professed
To love so much or relegate
Certain people to second-class
Status, he really could not
Have cared less, all he truly
Was ever concerned about was
Getting back at someone.
They’re trying to explain
Why we should care for one another
But this one guy sabotages
The conversation, forcefully
Interjecting unsubstantial,
Loud-mouthed carnival-barker-like
Falsehoods based on some strange
Utopian fantasy where
Giant corporations provide for
Everyone and human beings
Magically prosper in spite of
Massive obstacles and
Rampant selfishness;
What the guy never mentions is
His persistent fear that
One day he’ll lose everything,
Scarcity his calling card.