Rage in New Orleans
We've all got one of these! I don't consider my poetry best read from a page, but heard……however, I want to encourage more poetry posting! FYI – you may reprint/perform (even just pieces), but cannot use it to make a profit!
RAGE IN NEW ORLEANS
September 2005
Military resources deployed to Iraq
country in need
deep fissures are showing
can you see the cracks?
The past two FEMA Directors
had no disaster management experience
appointed as friends
down graded cabinet position
absorbed by the
Department of Homeland Security with
millions of dollars while
people starved.
Do you feel safe?
We always knew this was coming
40 years of predicitions
3 years of consecutive budget cuts to
save New Orleans
yet tax cuts
line the pockets of the rich watching it
unfold from their summer homes
1st word transforms to 3rd world
US policy sets a course for
a country’s invastion justified with lies
and they keep
spin, spin, spinning
Asst Security of Homeland Security
compassion illuminated when he
said “Some may have regretted their decision not to evacuate”
Can he not see what we see on the TV
it was the poor, infirmed and
many did follow orders
finding a way to the superdome as
the winds began to howl
a hole was chewed into the roof
and they spent the entire night wondering
if it would come loose
sun rising
air stifled
infused with heat, fear, desparation
toilets filled up
trash overflowed
food got scarce
your mouth dry
people start to scream and fight
and as you watch
a man shake and then stop…..
because he died
right before your eyes
and I can’t help but recognize
the truth that was there all along
our government doesn’t care about the poor.
Relief was slim before, just enough to keep the illusion of the dream possible
and the clock
ticked tocked
nearly a week goes by before
conditions improve
white
black
it made a difference in how likely you were to suffer
Don’t you feel the outraged?
Our government failed us
the thin veil has been removed
our orderly society stabilized by local state and federal laws
vanished under the rising waters
mow I see it was gone long before.
US gun laws armed those thugs
who took advantage of this window of opportunity
wielding their anger backed by bullets.
Where was the National Guard?
buried
in sands
sticky oil
blood
for a war they couldn’t even be bothered to tell us the truth about.
It’s a war on terror
Sept 11
The Department of Homeland Security was supposed to
save us in our hour of need but
no one was around when
boats were tipped over
hospitals robbed
cracks are everywhere now
the water is pouring in
spot gas shortages, whisperings of riots
gotta keep these folks in their place just in case the madness comes
the madness of crowds
lost jobs will have unemployment soar
in an unstable economy burdened by debt
The world is shaking its head in disbelief.
Is this the all powerful America?
500,000 people, on our own land
refugees who waited for days
as their anger rose and
I can feel it in my soul
Media voices were the first on the scene and
with no politicians to manage the message
we got the whole mouthful
rage, rage, rage
coming across our TV screens
echoing in my soul
because….
Our democracy is broken.
Our culture is sick.
I see nothing but cracks
Are you looking, my fellow citizens
do you feel safe?
Consider this….
your government had 1 week to prepare for this storm
now imagine a terrorist attack
in
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