A Forgotten Reality

A hand is laid
Against a  tall majestic Oak tree
Feeling it’s rough bark
Under the hand.

Polka dotted by
Small growth of green moss
It’s velvety smooth touch
Sharp contrast
To the bark.

Yet
If you look closer
At the Oak tree
You’ll see
Appearances are deceiving
To the observer.

For rot has spread
Like a fast growing cancer
Throughout the entire tree
Slowly killing it
Much like poverty.

Where people are dismissed
By the authorities
Like they’re Plague carriers
Spreading the disease
Throughout the entire nation
By their very presence.

Not caring
How thin the line is
Between poverty
And prosperity.

Or how destructive
To one’s soul and health
Given just enough money
To have hope
Yet not enough
To survive.

Force to beg
For the necessities of life
When all of their money
Is used to pay
Their monthly rent
Leaving mere pennies
In their pockets
Afterwards.

Having to live on a diet  
Heavy in starches and sugars
And governments wonder
Why people living
Below the poverty line
Have a higher rate for diabetes.

Welcome to the modern welfare state
Where only the rich matter
Living behind their gated homes
Willfully blind to the blight
Upon the urban landscape.

Author's Note

Please ignore any grammer or spelling mistakes.

Reviews

[ANTO]

"let them eat cake" comes to mind Therisa - this is a conscience rousing write which could only be penned by someone who has humanity at heart. Fair play to you T

[therisa]

Sadly, Anto. this poem is based, in reality for me.