poems about society

Unlimited

He possessed all the money anyone could
Possibly need; a palatial house
Resembling a hotel; a personal line to the
Corridors of power. Unlimited influence.

Fear and admiration when he entered a room;
Hushed acknowledgments of his stature;
Shivers and discomfort at being put on the
List. Plastered smiles, attentive ears and
Nodding heads. Unlimited deference.

In the distance, the barely visible outline of
Security. Smiling, taunting, slipping through
His fingers. The world returns what it is
Offered. Lay awake wondering why the
Shadows don’t go away. Unlimited trepidation.

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Jack Up

Complete lack of
Pretense,
No longer hiding —
No need to —
The new normal.
Flagrantly
Slash the size of
Vital goods,
Cheapen products until
Barely usable,
Downsize until a
Dozen means six —
Or less.
Eliminate unnecessary
Frills that used to
Be part of the deal.
People will bellyache for
A while, but their
Memories are short.
Oh yes, one more thing…
Remember to jack up
The price.

Conserving

Obsessed with conserving…
Conserving his own money,
Conserving his own beliefs,
Conserving his own rights,
His own territory,
His own race,
His own language,
Own social circle,
Own music.
Conserving his own idealized,
Whitewashed version of what the
Country looked like in the 1950s,
When everything was perfect and
There were no problems with
Uppity people trying to upset
The established order.
Everyone stayed in their place,
Knew what was expected.
You took care of your neighbors,
Kept undesirables out,
A perfect, homogeneous community,
Encircling some, excluding the rest.

Sole Objective

Under the pretense of
Tradition,
They support and perpetuate
The subjugation of
Vulnerable people,
Power being the sole objective,
Not any made-up story of
Adhering to long-standing custom,
Disgraceful lust for
Domination and superiority.

One Day

One day she decided to do
Something different and sing
Her own song. One day he decided
To do something different and
Write his own story.
The world smiled.

Supplicant

Systematic pattern of
Control. Relentlessly
Dictate behaviors, thoughts,
Feelings, experiences.
Obligatory blindfold
Keeps out the light,
Walking unsteadily in a
Realm of mystery,
Uncertainty,
More complex than necessary,
Superstition supersedes.
Compliant, prostrate
Supplicant,
Managed from above.

Gap

Gap widening,
One group can’t see
What’s happening
On the other side.

Toiling fruitlessly,
Unable to lift their
Heads up long enough to
Envision any future.

Another lavish shopping spree,
Put the bags down in a
Closet the size of
An apartment.

Call your friend about the
Next trip to St. Barth,
In a kitchen, a father
Stares at dirty dishes.

Stress

Stress, stress,
Everybody feels it.
Stress, stress,
Everybody hates it.
Stress, stress,
Everybody talks about it.
Stress, stress,
Everybody perpetuates it.
Stress, stress,
A lovely pastime.
Stress, stress,
What else would we talk about?
Stress, stress.

Destroying

Keep them out.
Our nation isn’t what
It used to be.
Didn’t have to
Mingle with
Unfamiliar people.
Look, talk, believe the same.
Diversity what?
Didn’t have to
Bother with complex
Issues like indigence,
Unfairness, compassion,
Sharing resources.
One planet, no borders what?
Keep that dishwasher out.
Destroying the
Very fabric of our
Toxic society.