Bad choices? Whose Responsiblity?

The conservatives say that the rest of us, especially those of us that are poor, make bad life choices. This is incongruous. They are the ones selling the bad choices! Example: "Drink Coke!" This isn't healthy, yet they managed to position their products into public schools to influence children. They justify this on profit. Advocates of "free markets" shouldn't be preaching about responsibility when they have a vested interest in our doing the opposite.

The Other Me

Sitting in the street,
With a sign for food and cup
-ourselves yet unseen.

Copyright©2009

Brother Not Seen

People leaving church,
Beggar enters crowd with cup
-no one notices.

Copyright©2009

Suffer The Children #2

Child came up to me,
She held out her hand and spoke
-her eyes though, her eyes....

Copyright©2009

Sign Of Our Times

In Boston's North End,
Scents of Italian dishes
-man holds sign for food.

Copyright 2009

Equality And Justice For All.

One Single Impression: Equals

Mabel stood her ground,
Met the sherriff's angry stare
-let my people vote!

Raj faced British guard,
Officer's truncheon came down
-returned two more times.

For living wages,
Employees spoke with one voice
-voting union.

She stared from the page,
Telling me her sad story
-so many children.

Dictator now dead,
People pulled down his statues
-now for Bill of Rights.

Taunted and teased,
Billy ran hard and won race
-special Olympics.

Copyright 2009

Farewells, Sad And Happy.

Married twenty years,
Each day a silent goodbye
-lovers, now strangers.

He stood by her grave,
Not believing she was gone
-her moist eyes and smile.

Lukas stood on deck,
Saw Statue Of Liberty
-goodbye poverty

Copyright 2009.

One Single Impression: Goodbyes

Contemplation

Future uncertain,
On couch, staring at ceiling
wondering, wonder...

Copyright 2009

The Times

Savings depleted,
Month's bills accumulating
-millioniares bailed out.

Copyright 2009

Contemplation

Demons in my mind,
parading scenarios
-stream of tragedies.

Copyright 2009

Murphy's Haiku #48

Just to pay my bills,
I filed my taxes early
-State said I owed Grand.

Copyright 2009

The Skin Between Us

When you said I do,
I remembered your first hug
-held firm in soft skin.

She sat at her desk,
Her classmates looking away
-how to explain burns?

As he polished shoes,
Bugs festered in sagging skin
-homeless in Rio.

Sheriff standing guard,
Walter drank from the fountain
-not for Whites Only.

Copyright 2009

One Single Impression: Skin

A Sober Celebration

As the ball rises,
People celebrate new year,
-old problems remain.

Copyright 2008

A Rising Chorus

Man selling Spare Change,
Giving a voice to town's poor
-journal of the times.

Copyright 2008

Christmas Eve Thoughts

Little elves working,
Thinking of children playing
-do they have homes though?

Copyright 2008

Home Sweet Home?

After foreclosure,
They searched every shelter
-"welcome home", clerk said

Copyright 2008

One Single Impression

A Place To Lay One's Head

Homeless In Park
Photography: Edward S. Gault

Sleeping on the bench,
Thinking of his next bottle
-or his family.

Copyright 2008

There For Years, Never Noticed

Sitting there with his cup,
No longer able to cry
-just asking for change.

Copyright 2008

Sign Of The Times

I saw him standing there,
In the unemployment line
-eyes tearing, afraid.

Copyright 2008

Been Riding The Roller Coaster?

What poor people? Where?!
Prosperity has no end
-stockmarket follies.

Copyright 2008