Hard Times

So, so nouveau
Sidewalk cafes
Expresso bars
& local pop up body art shops
"Organic" is the word that pays
A line starts to form outside a neighborhood bank
Up the street is Silvercup Studios
Filming the next episode to "Ugly Betty"
The line grows longer
A crescendo of Spanglish is breaking the air
"Security please we are filming"
"Do something about them"
It hurts to hear them
We don't want to hear them
We don't want to see them
Them
Them who work 6 to 5
& still can't pay their rent on time
Them who wait all day
Them who stand on welfare lines for medicaid
Them who stand w/a beggars smile
& always up for a happy merengue
Them who sweat mesh w/linen fabric of Banana Repulic
Them who look forward to day old "Tom Cat" bread
Them who?
Them
& you who chase immigrant workers off the food line
w/a blue eyed stare
& forbid them to stay
w/a threat of no pay
Them who are us
Them was one time you
World War 11 refugees
You who stood on bread lines in Warsaw
You displaced & replaced into America
Just like them
You who migrated from Poland
Now sweat shop owners
You who saved stale buns to be dipped into water made soft again
You who was persecuted by those who thought less
You who were not born bourgeoisie
Your audacious nouveau riche attitude
Yes you
Not them


Peace life
copyright 8/8/08 Lepadah
1 world / 1 love



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