Steak or the seafood restaurant? I can’t decide!
That was 1999. Now to buy some pork and beans,
I hop on my bicycle and to the grocery store I ride.
The Chinese restaurant was my favorite, I liked their duck,
Now I snare them at night while dodging the park ranger,
I wouldn’t want to get arrested; that would sure suck!
Through the airport in a business suit I once did stride,
Now I spend the night sleeping on the hard plastic chairs,
Pretending to be waiting for planes I cannot afford to ride.
“Our budget is red,” the mayor wails, “whatever can I do?”
Now traffic cameras flash and cops look for taillight cracks,
The mayor found a solution: The workingman he’d screw.
Children walk up and down store aisles for hours on end,
While their mother searches for work; a job she needs,
For to daycare her children she cannot afford to send.
Does the government care about her? No, not at all,
They’ve got billions for the bankers and automakers,
But nothing for her, who sits on the curb and bawls.
Author notes
I am not actually homeless myself but I know that there are a lot of people losing their homes these days. The food banks and the homeless shelters are overwhelmed with people who are applying for their services for the first time in their lives. These are not the chronic homeless (winos and druggies) but working-class people who are deeply embarrassed to find themselves in such desperate straits.
Giving charity to a wino or a druggie is a bit pointless - he's just going to buy another bottle of Thunderbird or another eightball. But these new homeless, if they can be helped back onto their feet, can become productive citizens again.
So please do what you can! Donate to the local food bank, at least. Their shelves are bare.
In a list
A contest entry
- Help me reach my 2000 comment By entering your poetry by Night Terrors.
400 points, ended May 11, 251 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 9 of 9
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A very good write
To the point. Over in England we have the welfare state, which doesn't come under the US Gov. It is being overwhelmed with people losing their jobs and houses. I can'imagine what the Americans are going through in the same boat. I think your poem hits home hard.
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Thanks.
I've never been to England, but I'm learning a lot about the country from my English friends on All Poetry.
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Hmmm
Ur poems are interesting... I think uv a very unique style -
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Thanks!
Your poems are interesting too.
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Humor I found on the internet.
The Economy Is So Bad...
HOW BAD IS IT?
CEO's are now playing miniature golf.
Jewish women are marrying for love.
Even people who have nothing to do with the Obama administration aren't paying their taxes.
Hotwheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.
Obama met with small businesses to discuss the Stimulus Package: GE, Pfizer and Citigroup.
McDonalds is selling the 1/4 ouncer
Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names
A truckload of Americans got caught sneaking into Mexico
The most highly-paid job is now jury duty
People in Africa are donating money to Americans
Motel Six won't leave the light on
The Mafia is laying off judges
And finally...
Congress says they are looking into this Bernard Madoff scandal. Hey, neat...the guy who made $50 billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $750 billion disappear.
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I think you really captured the horror that most people in America are going through. I think the only way to fix this is to do away with big bussiness objectives. You really hit home with this.
The Positives:
I am adding this to the fianlist list it was such an insperational work of art.
Room For Improvement:
Nothing I can see you did wonderful
My Favorite Part:
Through the airport in a business suit I once did stride,
Now I spend the night sleeping on the hard plastic chairs,
Pretending to be waiting for planes I cannot afford to ride.
I have done this how funny is that lol
Overall:
I give this an 10/10 you did great. I hope to see you in my future contests thanks so much for entering.
~*~Apathetic Poison~*~
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Wow! Thanks! 10/10 I've never seen you give anybody 10/10! I'm in shock!
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Very nice write here. This sounds a little crazy and obviously is on a less important level, but just hte other day while shopping, my mom took me into thrift stores and the like. Me of course, the middle class snotty white girl wanted to duck in shame, because it was on a busy street in my town. I even asked my mom, "aren't you embarassseeeed to shop here" She was quite offended at my apparant ignorance and rudness, and you know what, it wasn't so bad. So my new dress cost $30 instead of $200 and was 5 or 6 years old. I got over it fast. It doesn't matter that we don't have the money for designer clothes, I wear what we can afford and slowly I am learning that it's not so shameful to ask for help.
That reminded me of the embarassment you mentioned in your poem. It's hard because the general connotation is that poor people go there, the less well-off, and well in our society the sad thing is they are made fun of for it.
I think that this recession is not only a lesson in economy but a more indirect and beneficial swift kick in the ass on equality.
Great write, anyhow!!
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Thank you for the thoughtful comment.
I know that I had gotten into a lot of stupid and wasteful habits during the boom times. Jeez! I spent money like it grew on trees! Now, looking back on that, I wish I'd been more prudent.
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