CALM Publishing

ON THE WALL

 

Right up there on the wall –

Every classroom.

Many teachers had fought in “the war.”

Each morning, the recitation –

One nation, conceived in Liberty.

We bought it.

We counted the stars

As if they were blessings –

Imagine, all 50 contributing to the whole.

Indivisible, thanks to Abraham.

Still free, thanks to dead soldiers.

            And then we skip forward decades

            And those vets who survived are gone.

            Their places in the schools and businesses

            Taken by their privileged beneficiaries –

            Who inherit vast resources

            Immense infrastructure –

            Never invaded and destroyed –

            Just perfect, modern.

And like spoiled children

Inheriting millions

They consume, spend; consume and spend.

They pay-off adversity

Buying their way through life

Expecting their money to always be there

And when it is gone

They founder and point fingers –

At others, society, the laws

Or any other possible culprit

            Until the plunderers come –

            Dismantling ownership –

            Putting their flags in our classrooms.                                              221220.1