The thing about it was
That nobody was quite
Sure what had actually
Happened or how to
Interpret it, there
Being as many different
Versions of the events
As there were people
In the room, although
Everyone seemed to agree
It created a rather
Uncomfortable situation.
It was the look
Of contempt that
Changed everything,
A fixed stare
Piercing right through her,
Narrowed eyes,
One-sided smile,
Devoid of any empathy,
Now an object of scorn,
Written off as unworthy.
On this sweltering
Summer day,
The water discharges
Brown out of the tap,
Laden with all manner
Of contaminants and
Unhealthiness,
Provided to her and
Her family by officials
Who only care about
Giving all the money
To people not like her.
It all started about
Two years ago when
His health started
Deteriorating, an
Illness his doctors
Said was chronic and
Difficult to treat.
It’s only been a few
Years since he’s been
Able to afford health
Care and it sure came
In handy when all this
Developed, although
Now he fears it will
All be taken away by
The people he voted for.
So traumatized by them;
He identifies with
His tormentors and inflicts
Upon others the same
Horrors he endured.
A bitter cycle of hurt
Unnecessarily perpetuated,
Ignoring myriad alternatives,
Familiarity over healing.
She plays just
Outside the door
Of the motel room
That once used to
Host tourists but
Now charges obscene
Rates to people who
Don’t have a down payment,
The necessary credit,
Connections,
Breaks in life,
To live anywhere else.
They used to be
Able to take the
Family out for dinner
Once in a while
But that was before
The cost of
Everything went up
While their paychecks
Stayed the same and
Their benefits were reduced
And they were forced
To do more with less.
And just like that,
In the middle of lunch,
She realized that
Every time she felt
Like a loser it was
Because she had heard
That message over and over
And, not having the
Life experience to
Do anything else,
Had labeled herself
As deficient in some way
Because, after all,
They couldn’t be wrong.
Automatically given
All the advantages,
Without having done
Anything to earn them,
The comfort of oblivion,
Complacency of right,
It becomes natural to feel
A surge of disdain
Toward lessers who aren’t
Part of your tribe,
Who have the audacity
To want the same things
You’ve always had.
