economics is our science
of willful scarcity
i
so many laws are born
with birth defects
ii
somewhere, far away,
dirt-poor parents are forced
to cripple one of their children
to beg
for the family
iii
why is it so hard
to practice compassion
in this weary world?
is self-interest the opposite
of compassion?
is selfishness a symptom
of a constipated heart?
iv
power is the poison
that corrupts the tender soul––
the poor, the meek,
the peace-makers be
damned––
success doesn’t want
poor neighbors
v
the id conceives
only enemies &
jealous friends
vi
every page of legislation
has the thumbprint of ego––
where there is no consensus
the spirit of the law
trembles unborn
in the womb
vii
when perception is reality
lies dress-up in army camouflage––
& every promise
is a booby trap
for the gullible
viii
the big law words giveth––
the small law words taketh away
the appearance is charity––
the reality is translated into nay
ix
may the lottery-winners
of power
sleep blissfully
in their gated communities
x
when the beggar child smiles
hardscrapple pain
bursts into
light