poems about power

Government isn’t some
Arbitrary concept, some
Set of rules that is
Imposed by an abstract actor,
It’s a reflection
Of the human beings who
Have designed it. If they
Don’t care for each other
And function out of greed
And selfishness, their
Government will reflect those
Particular preferences,
If they care for one another
And value the greater good,
Then their government will
Do the same. There’s no magic
To it, the people get what
They champion or tolerate.

Take an eager, hopeful
Middle class family that
Makes enough to pay the
Bills each month and start
Increasing the cost of
Everything they need to live.
Make sure to include
Things they really need
Like soap and toilet paper,
Milk, cereal, bread, cheese.
Keep downsizing everything
While raising prices,
Eventually they’ll notice
Their bank account shrinking,
Vacations not occurring,
Health care postponing,
Mortgage defaulting,
Hunger visiting,
Death by a thousand cuts.

Having had a particular
Life experience where
She hasn’t had to think
Much, if at all, about
Anyone else but herself and
Those in her immediate circles,
She deems it appropriate to
Prattle on about things
Clearly beyond her ken
But that she nevertheless
Strongly feels she has a
Conclusive perspective on
That supersedes the actual
Experience of those who
Live through the hardships
Caused by her misperception.

Contorted, enraged face,
Screeching in pain as
He senses that things
Aren’t the same as they’ve
Always been, that he can’t
Impose his boorish, petty
Will on everyone, that he
Won’t be afforded every
Opportunity by virtue of
Birth, that his place
On top of the pyramid is
Now a prelude to a swift
Downward slide, undeniable
Evidence of the hollow
Power and influence
Wielded by him and
Others sympathetic.