Their lives are
Based on beliefs
Rather than facts,
Following a trajectory
Of supposition,
Superstition,
Every move dictated by
Some unseen force,
Contrived reality,
Detrimental,
Unproven, unhealthy.
Over and over,
They look
The other way
As children
Are killed,
Money and power
Being much more
Important than
Decency.
Each and every
Sordid action
Shockingly demonstrates
They care nothing
For the less fortunate,
Indecency flaunted as virtue,
Cruelty the preferred currency,
A landscape littered with bodies,
Just another piece of refuse
Tossed aside by loathsome ghouls.
You have no idea
What my life is like
If you’ve never been
Called a derogatory name,
Denied a loan,
Been turned away
From renting a home,
Had your integrity or
Intelligence questioned,
Watched some person
Cross the street because
They see you coming,
Been harassed by people
In positions of authority,
Told you’re less than human,
Kept as property to
Make other people money,
Just because of
The color of your skin.
She stares at her daughter,
The same one who was filled
With joy and promise just
A year ago, the one who
Dutifully did everything
She was asked and never caused
A problem, a ready smile
Brightening the world around her.
She learns that her daughter
Lives in a tent
With an abusive man who
Has impregnated her.
Inside, she rages with shame,
The gall of this child,
Homeless, alcoholic, ungrateful,
Making her look bad.
She knew what it
Was like growing up
Without food on the table
Because the weather didn’t
Cooperate that season,
Her parents staring
Forlornly into the distance.
She spent many days
Wandering down dusty lanes
Thinking of the time when
She would leave that
Place and start anew
Somewhere where the
Buildings reached for
The clouds, where anything
Was possible, where she
Could run the show.
She made it to the
Halls of power and she
Never missed an opportunity
To destroy families like hers.
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.
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.
Someone hurt him
A long time ago.
Today, he punishes others for
His inner turmoil.
Seeking help not an option,
Only the perpetuation of pain.
Each day passes,
More fetid than the last.
