I Appreciate Their Teachings Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I Appreciate Their Teachings



Many today are discovering,
The ease their introduction to poverty has become.
Some of us already experienced with its effects,
Thought of poverty as a prerequisite to upper mobility.
When people of a 'certain' class were living,
Right across the street.
Just before the terms minority and ghetto were popularized.
And poverty was 'NOT' a fast fall from greed.

We seemed to have never qualified for anything back then.
But sympathetic looks and eyes cast down...
From those with turned up noses.

That was a long yesterday ago though.
But today,
Greed has become the 'boss'.
People have falsified qualifiers,
Just based on them knowing how to use a pen.
To sign documents eventually forged to approve a loan.
I couldn't make this up if I wanted to.
Too much of this is factual.

And people are up in arms,
About a downward credit rating...
That puts a smudge on their pretentions.
And that hole they have dugged deep...
Will take a hundred years to plug.

Many today are discovering,
The ease their introduction to poverty has become.
Some of us already experienced with its effects,
Thought of poverty as a prerequisite to upper mobility.
And not a fast fall from greed.
We seemed to have never qualified for anything back then.

I remember those who now crawl on their knees,
Use to say to my family and me...
Back in the day of our struggles,
How unfortunate 'we' were with their sarcasms.
Today I look at 'these' people and purposely buy a can of beans,
With a slowing of an opening done...
To then eat the beans in their honor.
Expressing a blessed thankfulness for having people like 'them'...
To realize how much I appreciate their teachings.

Maybe they will...
'Get off their lazy ignorant butts and find a job.'

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