It’s far easier to
Say that those living in
Poverty are somehow
Flawed, lazy, deserving
Of their plight, than
To look at oneself
And acknowledge that it’s
One’s own beliefs,
Actions, values,
Contrived moral outrage,
That perpetuate a
System that keeps people
Right where they are.
As we’ve seen time and again,
Despots are not content with
Merely having all the
Riches and power.
It is not enough to
Control everything and
Everyone all the time
Without resistance.
Their inner neuroses
Demand further action,
Complete eradication of
Contemptible foes.
It’s always the same story:
Use language to denigrate and
Dehumanize their opponents,
Label them vermin.
Even regular, upstanding,
Normally kind people will
Eventually believe something
If it’s repeated enough.
A populace becomes convinced
That the enemy needs to be
Vanquished at any cost and
With extreme prejudice.
He’s a generally caring guy,
Has even been known to do
Kind things for people whom
He doesn’t even know.
He’s got a steady moral compass,
Treats people the way
He would like to be treated,
And smiles at others on the street.
The veneer of civility starts
Cracking whenever something happens
That arouses latent passions,
Hidden presumptions.
Rapid metamorphosis
From mild and affable
To unfeeling, unforgiving,
His true self awakened.
They look the other way
When one of their own
Goes after those they fear,
A revolting alliance of
Bigots defending a
Foul state of affairs,
Dismissive of people
Who have genuine grievances,
Eager agents of supremacy,
The putrid face of
Unbridled privilege.
Champions of intolerance,
Waving a flag,
Holding a cross,
Extolling the absolute virtues
Of their constricted mindset,
Gather in agitated herds,
Facing outward to defend
Against the barbarians
Who don’t share their
Antiquated, reactionary
Perception of a world
Full of scary things,
Like people who don’t
Worship narrow-mindedness,
Ignorance, hatred.
The world continues to scream
For a generation of human beings
Who believe in love
Rather than hurt.
He hid the secret from his
Parents, a lovely couple who
Never made waves but were
About to find out what chaos
Means when his prized pet
Jumped the fence and attacked
Their closest friend in the
Neighborhood. A perfunctory
Slew of incredulity and denial
Followed the painfully foreseeable,
Preventable act only missed
By those who couldn’t think
Beyond their own yard.
Living a hardscrabble existence
Regardless of wealth,
Perceiving the world
As infinitely dangerous.
Nothing will change his mind,
A worldview burned into
His being, inseparable from
Self-image, identity.
Violence, darkness,
Gaping, weeping wounds,
Debilitating fear,
Disheartenment.
He used to effortlessly
Skewer them with irreverent,
Joyously witty, satiric commentary,
Bringing down the haves
With a single clever line,
Speaking truth to power.
At some point something changed.
Eyes dead, demeanor cold,
Disjointed, rambling, uncomfortable
Harangues against the vulnerable.
Selling his soul to fear,
Shilling for his new masters.
He fancies himself
A fine person,
Upstanding member of
His community,
A family man of
Excellent moral character,
Responsible, productive,
A good friend to
Those who know him.
He stands on a
Dusty strip of land
In the glaring, hot sun,
Shouting angrily at
Frightened children,
Who know nothing else
But that they and their
Loved ones have
Nothing to eat.
