Backward and Behind

It's time to shock the system 
It's leavin' us behind
The company the government 
Left us down the mine

My great-great-great grandfather 
Up in Harper's Ferry town
Swinging from the gallows 
With the body of John Brown

Grandad fought in France
And Dad did time in Vietnam 
I was proud to serve in Iraq
When they knocked our towers down

Then come home to West Virginia 
And do what I'd planned to do 
Get a job at Upper Big Branch
Have a wife and child or two 

So many corners cuttin'
And a couple people died
The inspectors they did nothin'
Turned their blind eye to the side

It wasn't much surprise then
When our brothers twenty-nine
Were buried by the rubble 
Never came up from the mine

I could blame the company
For doin' what they did 
But the scorpion always stings the frog
'Cause that's just who he is

It was those damn inspectors
And the government they're from
They take our pride and money
Then they tell us we've become

Ignorant and racist
Backward and behind
Bible-thumpin' fools 
Livin' in a bygone time

Well you go 'head and think that 
Mr. Harvard Ivy League
I know one thing you don't
The last laugh belongs to me

It's time to shock the system
You'll hear me and how
I don't know what we're in for
But you'll pay attention now

January 27, 2017
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

Poem

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Martin Avatar
February 18, 2017 at 12:52 PM
There are many people in this world that can relate to this Andrew. Congratulations on your win! :-)
Scars Avatar
February 11, 2017 at 1:43 PM
great poem Andrew- passionate..thank you and congrats :)-luloo
Naye Avatar
January 30, 2017 at 12:19 PM
It's a very personal and passionate poem straight from the heart.
Koya Avatar
January 28, 2017 at 12:45 AM
Well put Andrew. Whats happening now makes Rev 13:7 come to mind.
Renitah Avatar
January 28, 2017 at 5:33 AM
right Koya life has it that side
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