Poems
by Gary Beck
The End of All Things
As the empire dissolves
madness accelerates,
breeding chaos.
Armed bands roam the country,
make dates
to fight other bands,
ignored by law enforcement.
The rich get richer
less and less concerned
with the well-being of others,
assuming the system
will continue to function
with fewer resources.
Opposing legislators
storm a congressional hearing,
similar to disorder past,
the Roman Senate,
the French Assembly,
and as dissolution looms
the great divide
between the haves
and the rest of us
grows wider,
while the deluded 1%
think theyll avoid disaster
whether in other countries,
or artificial enclaves
constructed in America
to provide comforts,
while the rest of us
go down in flames.
Suicide
Our negligent leaders
send young troops
to dangerous lands
where enemies abound
of all ages,
intent on death to America.
Our young soldiers
grow up with comforts
unknown to Afghanis,
where life of hardship
prepares them
for explosive vests,
detonating themselves
for God and masters,
while our stressed troops
are traumatized
from horrific conditions
that make them despair
of normal life
and kill themselves.
Fleeting Glimpse
I saw a monarch butterfly,
ephemeral beauty
in the concrete city,
flutter a moment
unnoticed by most,
no concept of time
so the brief life
feels complete.
Fading Sway
Once we had an empire
made it run,
worked on it all the time.
Built with guns and dollars
lots of fun,
as long as we had rule.
Once we had an empire
now its done,
leaving us without a dime.
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