When in society was it decreed that one should love all of humanity
Has mankind decided to overrule human nature with this insanity
Evolution has seen to it that all living creatures are not going to get along
This behavior is for permanence and can’t be judged as right or wrong
To survive creatures attack and sometimes devour other critters
Demonstrating why many animals don’t have a single offspring but have litters
Numerous young won’t make maturity as their very life is a gamble
What’s lying in wait, an overhead shadow may mean death before the desperate scramble
Humans have long known this, they had a daily fight for their existence
Weak and slow they only survived through their persistence
They fought other families, tribes, predators and elements
Before discovering strength in numbers and formed protected settlements
Instinct was to distrust others on sight and of different behavior suspicious
To foolishly drop one’s guard could cause one to defend an act intended as malicious
Through the passage of time civilization has evolved but not much changed
People born into a certain group had their destiny prearranged
Their gender, race, religion, economic standing all factored into the final combination
If your birthright hit the right number of marks your life wouldn’t be one of exploitation
The civil rights of the 60’s fostered a change by government authority
No longer could a group be denied liberty if they were a minority
Brave people marched, sat-in and came together protesting their lack of rights
Facing water hoses, snarling dogs, and murderous riders of the knights
Minorities of all races, religions, and genders then became equal under the law
Gone were colored water fountains and side entrances to theaters’ balconies as government oversaw
Unsmiling, club swinging crew cut cops were ordered to show sensitivity
All races were subjected to a constant barrage of political messages touting objectivity
Bussing sent reluctant children to schools redistricted by well meaning planners
Looking for an instant acceptance, forced integration was figured to provide the answers
The draft and Vietnam helped produce understanding by sharing water, food, blood and grief
The effort to stay alive and return whole formed a bond among many albeit brief
As the war wound down and disappeared into the the rear view mirror
The government vision of integration and anti bigotry became a lot less clear
Peace time made for a re-dedication to the principle of money and getting ahead
There was not a lot of thought to humanity as the worship of the dollar became widespread
Groups that had like positions in society tended to seek the same neighborhoods
While the government regulations and decrees continued to sell the same bill of goods
Little did the controlling powers realize that the color of money changes everything
A feeling of accomplishment, a paycheck, a small vacation can put moods on an upswing
From board rooms to manufacturing jobs, people want a purpose and pride in life
A secure job not living week to week and a positive daily routine can ease the strife
As jobs disappeared overseas, service management and white collar jobs remained
Leaving a wide gap of workers to fill entry level and menial jobs for the untrained
Further training to acquire higher paying jobs meant an additional expense or to enlist
With no additional money to spend or four years taking orders the idea was dismissed
Even high school diplomas don’t advance workers in entry level jobs far or fast
Working forty hours a week to bring home a grand a month, the money doesn’t last
The man climbs on one’s back to grind him down and keep him there
There’s no fast money or reality television lifestyle just misery and despair
The social programs pay just as well as entry level, just a matter of manipulating forms
An over worked social worker probably won’t come around to see everyone conforms
It’s easier to collect government pay than washing the linen from countless hotel beds
Money is just as green and spends as well regardless if from an employer or the feds
Work ethic, family values and scholastic pursuit became a sign of weakness
Without a trade or education the want ads became an unfocused vision of bleakness
Pop culture celebrates an alternate lifestyle of violence and drugs at high decibels
Dangerous but rewarding the world is a lot simpler than toiling away with paper and pencils
Being baddest became a much sought after trait, people would treat one with respect
Gangs were formed and territories’ aligned, an area that the group must protect
Life has gone back in time to defend one own from outside forces
The leaders assigns his people their duties, rules are implemented that the group enforces
Any interference from the outside is meant with suspicion and should be shunned
Be ready to stand one’s ground, fight for your territory, and don’t be out gunned
Law enforcement is only around to enforce the government’s racist policies
The cops aren’t trusted, they’re just an arm of the man’s bureaucracies
If all else fails while protecting your turf or venting frustrations it’s easy to pull the r-card
Once labeled a racist an elected official will not be held in high regard
An easy way to keep enforcement from one’s business and control of one’s domain
So the politicians look the other way as it’s easier than having to explain
Why you’re not a racist, why the good policies failed, why people can’t escape
When birthright determines one’s standing, life becomes difficult to reshape
Playing the cards that were dealt is an easy a path to follow
But throwing one’s life away by the 20th birthday is a hard fact to swallow.
Not realizing until late that the thin line of opportunity is gone by forty five
Upward mobility is all but over and one is there only to survive
An Observer of Life in Bad Poetry 