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.
