'2010/07/05 The Poor Poem by Margaret Alice

I can’t stand it when people refuse other
people human rights, I can’t stand it when
a taxi is not allowed to stop, I can’t stand it
when people are not allowed ablution rights
to answer the call of nature

I can’t stand the people who enjoy privileges
and refuse to share them with others because
of race, creed or origin, I can’t stand my own
people, hypocrites, I can’t stand the well-to-do
inveighing against the rights of the poor and

the less educated - to survive or live a decent
life – but I must honour these horrible masters –
I must bow and serve them, obey their rules, I
cannot do that without damage to my soul, I am
glad for the pain all this cause me

I am glad I am the least successful person I know
it goes to show I do not succeed in serving repressive
masters, I cannot sell my soul to the devil even when
that is the condition for my survival and taking care of
my loved ones – I am glad I am such a fool

Such a lowly paid official, it is the only proof of my inner
fire against the oppressive system that favours the rich
and lets down the poor...