Poems from Objectives
by Gary Beck

 

Immigrants

 

They first came to your shores,

America,

escaping persecution,

seeking a new way of life.

And for many years

newcomers arrived

seeking a better life,

were not treated well

but improved themselves,

not like the lot of slaves,

domestic animals,

until the law set them free.

It took much too long.

but they finally had a chance,

despite discrimination

to become Americans.

Your once open borders

that accepted so many

though not welcomed warmly

now firmly shut its doors,

through thousands of miles

of porous borders

allowed many illegals

unregulated entry,

many of them criminals,

smugglers, terrorists,

who shouldn’t be admitted

to a decent country,

yet you tolerate a flood

of undesirable aliens,

let them get your benefits

while they undermine

the future of the nation.

 

 

 

 

 

Rejects

 

Homelessness is a failure

of our society

to provide services

for troubled veterans,

families with children,

the two neediest groups

that deserve assistance.

New York City years ago

placed families with children

in decaying hotels

that became a breeding ground

of crime, drugs, violence,

especially affecting

vulnerable children,

suddenly isolated

in buildings not designed

to shelter the helpless.

It took a long time

to close the hotels,

an insane experiment

that blighted children’s lives.

Now the homeless crisis

grows larger and larger

and pressures the mayor

to solve the problem.

Desperate for answers

he approved the use

of a big, older hotel

to house six hundred families.

We know our city

did not learn from lessons past

and once again invites

terrible afflictions

on innocent children.

 

 

 

 

 

Mother III

 

That dumb nanny is late again.

What am I doing to do with her?

She just doesn’t get it

that I have so much to do.

The dogs have to go to day care.

Jennifer goes to pre-school.

I have to take care of Dylan

until that dumb nanny gets here.

If she doesn’t get here soon

I can’t get my nails done,

or I can’t meet Tessa for lunch.

 

The maid is always late,

so the doorman has to let her in

and she doesn’t do a thorough job,

even when company’s coming

like tonight, one of Bart’s clients

and his tedious trophy wife

who drones about trivial things,

while she keeps swilling martinis.

I had to give up my spa day

and work with the caterers,

while Bart shows off to his client

without the faintest idea

of sacrifices I make for him.

 

He complains all the time

I don’t understand his efforts

to provide us with the good life

and how hard he works for it.

He plays golf four times a week,

entertains clients on weekends

and I do everything for them.

Bart just doesn’t understand

how difficult it is

to deal with the caterer

four or five times a week.

 

At least the dumb nanny

gets the dogs from doggy daycare

when she brings Jennifer from pre-school.

At least Bart doesn’t look at her

like he looked at that island girl

who came for an interview

swishing her hips and Bart’s eyes bulged.

But I quickly sent her away

so Bart wouldn’t bang the nanny.

 

I give the dogs their late night walk,

Bart wouldn’t dream of doing it

and I have to pick up their poop.

It’s draining what I go through

for my husband and children.

It would be easier for me

if we bought a bigger place

and hired some live in help

to walk the damned dogs at night.

 

 

 

 

 

Rush Hour

 

The streets are crowded.

People go to work.

Traffic is heavy.

Impatient drivers

honk, curse, give the finger

until the light changes

and they move again.

Everyone’s in a hurry.

For a short while it seems

Covid is forgotten.

We’ve stopped worrying

there’ll be a recession

and we’ll go about our lives

as if there is tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

Motivation

 

We desire to acquire

goods and services

displayed to us daily

on tv, the internet.

And within our means

we buy various things,

hopefully enjoy them.

But too many of us

buy beyond our means

going into debt,

overly brainwashed

by tv ads to buy,

purchase by credit card,

so we owe more and more,

pay monthly interest

that profits the banks,

while we are pressured

to continue spending,

perpetuating

economic indenture.

 

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