Blame Poem by Ted L Glines

Blame
by Ted L Glines

here in America
living high and arrogant
disasters always happened
over there
somewhere else
'those poor people'
we'd say prayers
throw money at their problem
then be distracted
by the next reality show
even nine one one
was just a patriot act
with a villain far away
outrage for some
but disconnected
from self and home
eclipsed by some obscure
Jihad
and here in America
we are so haughty
looking down on third world
abuses
horrific pain and death
despotic mismanagement
pointing boney fingers
always at 'them'
as if
we are above all that
until Katrina came
her wake spinning off
mutilated elder bodies
people thirsty starving scared
and promises negated
by red tape
while abandonned people waited
hopefully becoming hopeless
crying begging drowning
gas blazing on the waters
only looters came
to help themselves
anarchy walked those streets
raping children
random robber killers
our own American terrorists
while police walked off their jobs
hundreds of school buses
sent away empty
to protect them
(from the refugees?)
maybe it is good
for Americans to feel
this 'third world' agony
right here at home
tearing at our hearts
while the whole world watches
with no one but ourselves
(imagine that)
to blame