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The Era of Helpless Resignation


it must be
that time
i'm out
on their dime
store beat
and walking
the street
and i'm
thinking
i'm in
this for
a holy
spiritual
retreat
and believe
that i'm
going to
kick out
some compassionate
love prose
but instead
i'm finding
anger
great anger
at the injustices
of the world
right now

it's never
been fair
but it's
even worse
than
i imagined

walking
in midwestern
rural grocery store
you see the
eyes of the people
the blue collar
workers
just denied
denied
hopelessness
in their
eyes

a pathetic
learned
hopelessness

put the rat
back on the roll
and start
churning
the old
grinder
into the meat
that spits
out the people
on the street

we aren't going
down alone
this time

we're taking
your shoe shine
kits
in magic
trips
in extended
stay hotels
and take
your sand
quick
it's
landing
on the ocean
making
fake islands
for the
man who
is reaping
all the riches
in from this
unholy war