A View of Foreclosure

I passed on the street I lived once, and saw the shame
Of history. The promise claimed by a second chance
Of hard work and misery, devastated by brinksters' game:
A stealth control of economy. Here a little light that lanced
The pupil of the eyes, pierced like a dagger in the heart
Here my house stood foreclosed. And on the wind the word
Was blame: we bought what we could not afford,
Now the people are victims twice, and we
Saddled with blame, find here no place for mercy.
A bitter gall of clever lies tearing us once more apart
Only the serpent streams here,  the grim grass grave heart 
Where giant trees suck water from the empty soil, and make
Great canopies, but we find no rest. For in these branches
The same snake drives little birds from their nest. Take
A picture here, where Eden turns to wilderness; traunches
Of golden sunlight poured upon dead bush and leaves
Look not for the medicinal herbs choked by barren trees,
No sprinkler runs, no pompous cougar fawns, truth grieves
Alone. The wasting rich pay less and gets more; he pleas
For more where the poor sweats still. A house to live
Is now conceived above our due deserve and means.
O buildings gaped your swinging doors, for pensive 
Blows the wind: I pray this debt forgive, let creditor cleans
The slate for all, so from a level field we start again.

The house was honest sweat, and love's fair dream
The deal they sold me was just a rotten scheme
For ambition shackled us with an existential chain
And we are left with nothing now but promises vain
And the tongue of politics whipping our backs again
Yet in this foreclosure's spate we only ask to work now
There is no milk to come by killing us, the economy's cow
O let there be compassion where greed betrayed good men
Or the shadow that falls on barren walls will bring a bitter end.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Kelly Avatar
October 8, 2010 at 4:35 AM
Well done , David , on this excellent piece , which is well worth the front page ....
Sapp Avatar
October 7, 2010 at 7:43 PM
Wonderfully written! Someday the general public is going to realise that our enemies are the wealthy, not Liberals or Conservatives. They are transporting us back to the days of the railroad barrens and the Rockefellers.
Shetley Avatar
October 7, 2010 at 7:30 AM
Oh David, David, David... it's not a wonder why you your poem was featured this week. You are a remarkable writer. congrats!
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
October 5, 2010 at 9:28 AM
Congrats David, on your narrative being featured. Vince
Brown Avatar
October 4, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Congratulations on your poetry being featured this week at PoetrySoup David. Love, Carol
Austin Avatar
October 4, 2010 at 6:59 AM
Whoever said life is fair if you work hard? Loss of house and home would be one of the worst blows one could suffer. Congrats on the selection. Dave
Eggins Avatar
October 4, 2010 at 5:46 AM
I really enjoy your poetry David .. if your not on my favourites list i will make sure to add you when I work out how to look at who I have on mine lol smile ... congratulations on having your poem featured this week love Jayne
Horsman Avatar
October 4, 2010 at 1:12 AM
life as it really is, David, this is an excellent poem, and ranks amongst the best i've read on soup. Harry
Sweetheart Avatar
October 3, 2010 at 9:07 PM
Congrats David on your featured poem this week on the Soup my friend.. a nice one to share with us all with luv..
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