RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: CORONAVIRUS SERIES
Poverty in a Time of Pandemic
The Standing Rock Sioux
Stood up to the oil industry
They fought long and tough and hard
To defend the earth from harm
The people of Standing Rock are poor
Where others offer money and time
The tribe put it all on the line
Poor people do not vote
So it is said and too often it’s true
But the time has come to break old habits
Strike out at something new
Poor people are sick and dying
Poor people are denied healthcare
Poor people suffer heart disorders
Tuberculosis cancer lung disease
Poor people have drinking problems
Hard drugs and addiction
Because they want to escape
Because they’ve lost hope
Because no one cares
When times get hard for all
Some people cut expenses
Some people tap their savings
Some people do without
Poor people become homeless
Jobless hungry desperate
When all is said and done
Poverty kills
Poverty in a time of pandemic
Kills ten times quicker
And more often
(The poverty rate at the Standing Rock
Reservation is 43.2%.)
No comments:
Post a Comment