Unappreciated
Foreboding,
Sense of uncertainty,
Perceptible shift,
Condition worsening,
Memories of a time
When it wasn’t like this,
Taken for granted,
Unappreciated,
Now mourned.
Top of the Food Chain
Everything was just grand
For the Johnson family
When they were swimming
In money, living in the
Right neighborhood,
Associating with the
Toniest socialites,
Disparaging people
Who weren’t as fortunate,
And just enjoying the
Perks of being at
The top of the food chain.
All that changed when
Circumstances beyond
Anyone’s control emptied
Their pockets, leaving them
Destitute and looked down upon
By their former best friends.
Exposed
He dares speak out against
Undeniable injustice and
The machine shrieks wildly,
Facing its own reflection,
Convulsing at the realization
That it has been exposed,
Dreading the possibility of
Having to pay for what its done.
An alert is sounded,
The minions rise,
A massive smoke screen appears,
Fealty to symbols instead of people,
A diversion to avoid talking
About sordid reality.
Awful Agenda
Unable to feel for
Anyone but himself,
He doubles down on
The only thing he knows:
Putting others down
In order to garner support
For his transparently
Awful agenda,
Cruelty for its own sake,
Pandering to the
Darkest impulses of
His damaged followers.
She Gets to Keep Her Car
Short on money for bills
Again this week and unable
To get an advance from either
Of her jobs, she sees an
Upbeat ad on TV assuring
Her that she can get the
Cash she needs if she
Just owns a vehicle.
She walks into the place,
Glances at all the people
Who look just like her.
She signs over her car title,
They let her know the great part
Is that she gets to keep her car,
That it will only be taken away
When she is unable to
Pay back the loan.
A Position
Starting from a position
That everyone is broken
And each person is on
His or her own doesn’t
Leave much room for
Empathy or optimism.
Routine condemnation
Does nothing to alleviate
The suffering of untold
Millions who work hard
To eke out a living and
Would be doing much
Better had not people who
View them as deficient
Designed a trap to keep
Them where they are.
Flailing
Flailing uncontrollably
At unseen foes.
Purchasing implements of violence
That never soothe.
Unable to silence
The constant din.
Reacting out of fear
Instead of love.
First World Problems
Ugh, I can’t believe I have
To take my car in again,
Which means I’ll miss my
Haircut appointment which
Is always so hard to schedule,
Such a pain. Maybe I can stop
By the coffee place…
Oh, I forgot, of course,
They’re closed for remodeling,
Now I have to go to the
Place down the street that
Doesn’t have Wi-Fi,
Or my favorite drink, great.
I can’t function this way,
Guess we can’t all be lucky.