Poems from "Turbulence"
by Gary Beck

 

 

Pity the Lesser Haves

 

The wealthy have a wealth gap

as the top one-hundredth of the 1 percent

leave the merely very rich behind

in the purchase of art, diamonds, yachts

while the rising tide is lifting mega-yachts,

orders for 300 footers to a record high,

costing about $250 million,

more then most millennials can afford,

also denied the pleasure of large-cabin jets,

so they can only seethe with envy

at the bigger, better purchases

of their economic superiors.

 

 

 

 

 

The Road to Disaster

 

The President reflects

the  nature of the people,

at least enough to elect him.

As we reel under his assaults

on the economy

creating a bigger and bigger

poverty class,

insane attacks

on the environment

poisoning our waters,

alienating friends, allies,

until they no longer trust us

and may not support us

in our time of need,

as we are victims of greed,

stupidity, insanity,

betraying our tomorrows.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncertain Times

 

It is April seventh in New York City.

37 degrees F. Damp. Dank. Snow expected.

I have not seen a Robin,

provoking my fear

that they have abandoned

the good old U.S.A.

betrayed by the E.P.A.

We self-elected our species

custodians of the Earth,

yet between global warming,

climate change, loss of habitat,

wanton consumption

of natural resources,

and the usual depredations

of war, disease, crime, poverty,

our hope for the future

lies in space travel

to habitable planets,

where we’ll ravage the new home

just as we’ve devastated the old.

 

 

 

 

 

Perspective

 

Another school shooting.

A calculating teen

violently invades

what should have been

a safe learning center.

Except for the aggrieved,

it’s quickly forgotten.

A disturbed man

kills his girlfriend’s baby

because it cried too loud.

Yet it’s quickly forgotten.

Women charge a prominent man

with sexual abuse

and the outrage is deafening.

The case goes on and on

titillating the people,

far more important

then the slaughter of children.

 

 

 

 

 

Progress

 

Once the telephone

was a wonder instrument

that no one took for granted,

few understanding

how it worked.

Now the Iphone

is an incredible device

that everyone takes for granted,

fewer understanding

how it works.

 

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