Tag Archives: poor

Life on the Off-ramp

Hot summer days,

A/C blasting cold and refreshing,

Music blaring from the car radio,

Cardboard signs,

“Will work for food”,

Litter the freeway off-ramps,

Held by vagrants and transients,

Dirty and broken,

Looking for food,

Looking for a better life,

Hoping to survive another day,

You pass by averting your eyes,

Pretending…no wishing they were not there,

Not because of sadness for their condition,

But out of deep seated embarrassment,

Red faced by lack of action,

Of compassion,

Of sympathy,

Seeing them as less than human,

A drain on society,

Would some spare change put you out,

Not likely,

But then you would have to face reality.

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Silent Cries

Image Credit - thinkprogress.org

Image Credit – thinkprogress.org

An infant’s cry shatters another sleepless night

A mother, devoid of life sustaining nectar clutches her baby to her breast

A father weeps silently, drinking in his plight as if hemlock

Sadness shelters the family under its ramshackle peak

Hopelessness feeds their malnourished appetites

What excuse can be waged in this modern year

Brown or white, skin is of no significance

It is not a barrier to the ravages of hunger and poverty

Saying it does not exist does not make it so

As ignorance is not an excuse for blindness

Is there not enough for all

Are not sunken eyes and bloated bellies reason to intervene

Reason to give voice to the cries that no one hears

To tears shed that no one sees

To dreams dreamt that no one believes

Compassion and empathy must foster change

The sighted must open the eyes of the blind

The deaf must be compelled to hear

This is humanities charge

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Shame of Intolerance

Drama perseveres,
We remain shackled and chained to our past,
Bound to ideals thought long ago buried.
~~
Under the same sky we are born and die,
Returned back to the earth caste-less.
~~
Equality seems a distant dream.
~~
We feign to have grown,
Only to rebound to our stunted ways,
Taking aim at the latest victim.
~~
Shouldn’t we be color blind to the flesh by now,
Incomprehensible is it to have to legislate,
Over and over and over.
~~
These delusions are not the end,
Fear mongering has become both sport and folly,
Substituting understanding for hostility and ignorance,
Attempting to rally the naive.
~~
Those that hide behind their faith,
Calling evil, those beliefs that differ,
Claiming superiority,
Believe the propaganda.
~~
We think we have progressed,
Advanced beyond infantile characterizations,
But we have not, we have digressed ,
Becoming more intolerant.
~~
Residents of the rainbow are criticized and shamed,
As if their orientation was free will,
Demoralizing them as abominations before God.
~~
Shallow and nescient is your moral constitution,
When will those of conscience rise up,
Ushering in diversity and equality.
~~
Freeing those marginalized by a witless society,
To live full and fulfilling lives.

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Poverty – Haiku

poverty

Do you feel thankful

Given the bounty possessed

Remorseless in greed

~~

Riches plaster walls

The smell of money lingers

Eyes closed to the poor

~~

To show charity

Draws empathy to the plight

Still poverty lives

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Circle of Fools

Tightropes walk to the edge of ruin

Foresight focused on the next coronation

Selfish air about you floats

Ignoring the subjects by whom you’re appointed

~~

Millions seek your help after natures disaster

WIth backs turned and blinders on you drift away

Crying our duty has been faithfully done

Shameful and disgraceful are your exploits

~~

You led us to this precipice as arrogant fools will do

Tug-o-war played with lives of no consequence

Calls to work go unheeded in deafened halls

Leaving the masses pondering their fate

~~

Pointing fingers and placing blame like two year olds do

Holding your breath until your face turns blue

Shouting foul to the constituency

Hoping for some semblance of sympathy

~~

Feigning sincerity is not your passion

Ploys thrown about for the cameras leave us hollow

Begging for guidance and utopia in a barren wasteland

Sadly hope falls just out of reach

~~

Choosing to live or eat should not be in question

As human beings should these not be our unalienable right

Many of you say no all for the saving of a dollar

While claiming vociferously that we are a Christian nation

~~

Bloody and battered we hope for change

Praying diplomacy and common decency once again rears it’s head

Instead replacing cordiality with dissension

We are left drowning in a torrent of despair

~~

Harbor not ill will towards those who have entrusted

Compromise in our eyes is not an unclean word

Stubbornness and procrastination will lead to certain demise

Catapulting a once great dominion into irreparable ruin

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Unalike at Birth

Credit - csmonitor.com

Credit – csmonitor.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I ran the race, but tripped and fell,

The starter’s pistol heard clear as a bell.

~

They say we start out as equals its true,

Sadly the shortest of fates straws I drew.

~

The field is not level, its slanted you see,

The caste at your birth influences who you will be.

~

Yes this can change its not written in stone,

You’ll have to push harder and higher alone.

~

Your families old money makes for a pre-made man

While I scratch and I claw doing all that I can.

~

As I’m running my race I can see you ahead,

Getting farther and farther from the path that I tread.

~

You claim we are the same from conception to birth,

My mother cleans houses, what’s your Daddy’s net worth.

~

The systems unfair, some say evil and cruel,

Treating those of less fortune as inconvenient and worthless fools.

~

Because you say this is not so does not make it true,

I work as hard if not harder than many of you do.

~

Still I live paycheck to paycheck without a spare dime,

Hoping and praying someday good fortune in turn will be mine.

~

I would change my condition if only time would allow,

But with work, home, and family to their pressures I must bow.

~

You laugh and call us stupid behind country club doors,

We are those that wait on you, clean up after you and shine your marble floors.

~

How dare you proclaim that this system is fair,

From your ivory towers, sprawling mansions, and mountain top lairs.

~

Remember there are those far less fortunate than you,

Born without the golden slipper, silver spoon our betterment you subdue.

~

I look forward to the day when in my shoes you must walk,

Maybe then you’ll show compassion and stifle harsh talk.

~

Until then I will struggle and work ‘til I drop,

Pray the system will change and this punishment stop.

~

When fairness for all is the law in this land,

Maybe then we can solve our problems walking arm in arm and hand in hand.

Liberality

credit – news.thomasnet.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~~~

What is it they say,

With age comes wisdom,

This I hope and pray to be true,

Yet repeatedly this comes into question,

Seeing rigidity replace compassion.

 ~~~

I’ve become an oddity,

As liberal replaces conservative,

Demonized by those on the right,

If inclusion and compassion are evil,

I am guilty as charged.

 ~~~

A question, why the word liberal,

What does this mean,

Race, creed, color, do not define,

Not treating those in need as parasites,

When cut do we all not bleed.

 ~~~

To be liberal is to be human,

Loving our brothers and sisters,

Sexual orientation is not a choice,

Discrimination has consequences,

Do not judge until you have walked in anothers shoes.

 ~~~

Should this not be called compassionate,

Where is the evil,

You would rely on man’s goodwill to offer up benevolence,

Would you part with your fortune for the sake of another,

I think not, out of sight out of mind.

 ~~~

You feel robbed…no, cheated,

Reliance on charity alone has foundered,

Those in need are not criminals,

They have not picked your pockets,

Though you cry foul and claim that they have.

 ~~~

You laugh as we cry,

The spotted owl, the lizard, the toad have no voice of their own,

Clean air, clean water, clean ocean, open land,

Jokes told at meetings on Wall Street,

How sad to be held captive to money.

 ~~~

Global warming…a lie you proclaim,

As premium flows into your Bentley,

Anti-capitalist scientists must be fudging the data,

Ask those afflicted by Sandy,

Say goodbye to the polar bear.

 ~~~

You hoard your cash and earthly possessions,

Showing nary a care for your fellow man,

Nary a care for the world you so lackadaisically plunder,

What use is your great wealth to your progeny,

When you have spoiled that which sustains them.

 ~~~

You call me liberal, un-American, anti-capitalist,

Your opinion means little to me,

If greed and inhumanity are what make me American,

Then I bow out of this club,

I’d rather you thank me for making this a better world in spite of you.

For the Kings Amusement

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~

Drawing your broadsword,

The shrill sound of blade on scabbard,

Wind whistling as you ready for the plunge,

From your gilded perch, you call a throne,

Driving the saber home.

 ~~

Stripping away every last breath,

Leaving those that built your dominion,,

Clutching their throats, gasping for air,

All to adorn your coffers,

With the gold of fools.

 ~~

Corpses of the loyal lie scattered about,

Left to rot in the noonday sun,

You know more will come,

Looking to you for mercy and sustenance,

Knowing they too are expendable.

 ~~

Your minstrels praise you calling you benevolent Lord,

While you smile your hollow smile,

With yellowed teeth and putrid breath,

Showering them with accolades,

All the while condemning them to death.

 ~~

You find this such great sport,

A vicious game,

Played solely for your amusement,

Who loses makes no matter,

So long as its you that prospers.

 ~~

You look down upon your subjects,

With jeweled goblet in hand,

Whispering in contempt,

That they are not worthy of your grace,

Nor deserving of your clemency.

 ~~

So you carry on like a spoiled Prince,

Conniving those around you,

“Fear not!”, you proclaim this is all in jest,

While the executioner readies his block,

For the next ax to fall.

Just Another Day in the Promised Land

Homeless mother and child – csindy.com

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~

Dirty faces streaked with tears,

Revealing the shell of who they were,

In silence they live their greatest fears,

Passing by, you pray they do not stir.

~~

Their homes a box, a shantytown,

No cover from rain, sleet or snow,

Living with luck or fate torn down,

With arrogance you look away from those below.

~~

Sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers,

They too were once like you,

Annoyed you pass, you can’t be bothered,

With these paupers, beggars and shrews.

~~

They did not ask for their station in life,

For many, no fault of their own,

They huddle with daughter, son and wife,

On these sidewalks and alleys alone.

~~

Lift yourself up and make your own way,

With what, is a question to be asked,

Struggling to eat day to day,

There’s no time for their plight to be masked.

~~

A little compassion would go a long way,

Helping pick up our fellow man,

With food and warmth and a safe place to stay,

Simple basics since time began.

~~

So many are one paycheck away,

From the life these nightmares are made of,

In darkness they hope to keep poverty at bay,

Saying prayers to their God in Heaven above.

~~

From that vagrant you see do not dart your eyes,

Instead offer an honest helping hand,

Remember the innocent child who cries,

Dirty, hungry and homeless in this promised land.

A Delusional Vision

By D. R. DiFrancesco

You say it’s for our own good,
You know better than us,
Claiming to be erudite,
But displaying nothing but contempt..

The mold you had cast,
Lies cracked and crumbling,
Still you try to force us to conform,
Assuming we are incompetent.

Hiding behind evangelical fervor,
You treat us as children,
Too naive and simple to surmise what is right,
Sinful beings needing your protection from ourselves.

When did we become so helpless,
You angry old men,
Surrounded by your white marble walls,
Casting retribution over your fiefdom.

Showing little veneration for the gentler sex,
You rule over them with feign compassion,
While valuing them as nothing more than objects,
What despots you are.

Under whose authority is love within your purview,
You look down upon those who do not believe as you do,
Regarding them as broken and immoral,
You vile creatures.

Do they not bleed as you do,
Are born innocent, live and die,
Crave love and acceptance as you do,
What makes you so self-righteous?

You despise those less fortunate,
Consistently questioning their ethics,
You claim they are lazy and felonious by nature,
Begging for alms at every turn.

Do not pretend to know them,
You have never visited their neighborhoods,
Struggled for your next meal,
You would not survive a day in their shoes.

“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps”, says you,
Your totalitarian battle cry,
Toil and sweat, and you can be like me,
Easily said from the pillowed comfort of your penthouse.

We are not like you,
Neither fate nor inheritance have looked favorably upon us,
Our labors scarcely provide for the bare necessities,
Still we have hope in our childrens futures..

Your greed and cold-heartedness have blinded you,
Morally corrupt,
Like the gluttonous tick you bleed society dry,
To build your delusional visions of utopia.