Povertys National Anthem

Slender man walking a dusty, country road, Clothing on his back dirty, ragged, and worn, Had been cruelly bullied, poked and ridiculed, Felt like the dirt under his worn-out brogan shoes. Huge tears falling from his wrinkled, sun-burnt face, Most folk satisfied he is a welfare case, And didn’t care his wife and children were in deep pain, His weathered shack unfit to shelter out the rain. So stressed out and crushed, felt he had lost his soul, Had no hope or sound reason to form life goals, Full of fear and dread, sorely tortured by unrest, In a dark abyss of a living hell at best. No one seemed to understand or sympathize, Not a soul came forward that could empathize, He was seen as a man with no future or gain, Was invisible to those with much greater means. Poor and an outcast, was overlooked by all, Just another dolt in worn-out overalls. It’s so evil to be aloof and crudely bold, And judge him as Cain and post a curse on his soul. When religious folk and politicians fold, And do not see we are our brother’s keeper, When the fortunate “have’s” abandon the “have nots”, The “haves” are poor in love, if the hard truth be told. America, the land of wealth and plenty, Lady Liberty lighting the open door, With a message of welcome to the down and out, Must be pained and embarrassed how we treat the poor. O say, can we see by the lamp’s glowing light, While Ole Glory waves in midst of the poor’s blight, As the “haves” coffers fill and overflow the brim, Sing without shame, “Poverty’s National Anthem.”