A Daily Testimony of a World's Decline

My daily drive; today through pouring rain,
Behind road fog snaking towards me from the truck ahead,
Slowly approaching the cloud-shrouded glass and metal,
Framed by downtown's bustling highways.

Graffiti on walls and overpasses define the city climate
Testimony of a divided space and time
Obscenities litter the viaducts and road signs
Racial slurs and sexual innuendos graphically apparent.

Beggars crowd each corner light.
Wheel chaired homeless; missing limbs and teeth,
Huddled beneath layers of sweaters and tattered jackets,
Mumbling into their private cyberspace of unreality.

Parking lots crowded with brown skinned men,
Waiting for one day's employment to wander by,
Speaking a language that is becoming the norm,
Twelve deep clustered in one room flats.

Sirens wail as the babies cry,
Crack head infants abandoned to a depleted system,
Children birthing children into a burdened structure,
Seams bursting in the waistcoat of mankind.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Goff Avatar
May 18, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Lena, this eloquent poem reflects your compassionate heart, my guess is one could listen to many testimonials of your kind heart! If time permits, Lena, see my observational poem "mailstop"... a bit graphic, but like your poem.... It's real! Love, jim
Williams Avatar
May 18, 2009 at 6:55 AM
Hi Lena... powerfully put... brilliantly graphic.. revealing a caring heart... "Beggars crowd each corner light. Wheel chaired homeless; missing limbs and teeth, Huddled beneath layers of sweaters and tattered jackets, Mumbling into their private cyberspace of unreality" ...... top class stanza, even "through" the subject.... thanks for your comments Lena
Townsend Avatar
May 17, 2009 at 8:20 PM
So much truth and tremendous sadness is expressed in this write but it is so well written. I see that your heart is filled with pain for the world that seems to be crumbling before us. A beautiful way to express anger and fear along with the tears of a gentle soul. Peace, Love, and Light be with you always. Smiles from Lolita
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