I guess it must be
Written somewhere that
We shouldn’t take care
Of those less fortunate
Than us, that we should
Make paupers suffer
Because, after all,
They’re just lazy and
Deserve to live in squalor
While all the resources are
diverted to the ruling class.
Rugged individualism
Corrodes the bonds of society,
Which only thrives when
People work together
To build a greater whole,
Realizing that nothing
Happens without help
From others, that one’s
Life is richer because
Everyone agrees to
Participate sincerely.
Unwavering fealty to
The group, the greater
Good left behind in
Favor of a narrow agenda
Benefiting only a few
At the highest end of
The scale, preferential
Treatment for those who
Already enjoy all the perks,
Long rows of identical
Drones marching in formation,
Obliterating everything
In their path to
Satisfy a pathological
Compulsion for power.
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 tries to scream
But all that comes
Out is a whimper.
Her whole life
Has been about
Trying to get along.
She reaches
Deep inside and
Finds her voice.
A beautiful sound
Emerges, making
People uncomfortable.
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.
She’s really upset
Because she’s had
Everything handed to her
And, this time, things
Didn’t work out the way
She had come to expect.
She’s adamant someone else
Got the type of break
That was always given to her.
Her parents support
Their little princess,
They’ll find a way
To make sure she
Gets what she wants.
It’s not that
They can’t help people,
It’s just that
They choose not to.
Inhumanity
Is simply the
Inability to
Move past fear.
We all do better
When we look out
For each other,
Courageously.
