Trust the System

footsteps aimlessly
walking on their trails
beaten down and broken
shiny as the rails
the rails of the train
over used and rusted
crumbling ignored
the system that you trusted
the silence of conformity
the quiet crying song
of people lost in apathy
monotony so long
the old man remembered
the booming days of old
and tried to warn the youngster
with stories he had told
the young man in the t shirt
can hear no warning cries
television cataracts
covering his eyes
commoners injected
with complacent misdemeanors
fed intravenously
from mass media feeders
the heretics will scream
with no one to hear their call
the working slaves will perish
society will fall
in the pulpit yelling
mystifying lies
sweating like a demon
with fire in his eyes
passing round a dish
to collect the workers' wage
saving souls ain't easy
so he sets a stage
profiting from fear
preparing them for death
comfort is a business
says his liquor breath
on the front row fanning
the woman says amen
waiting for the bell
so she can live in sin
forgiveness is a blessing
that god will give to few
surely she'll be one
when her life is through
the child in the classroom
with the curious mind
will be beaten and conditioned
until she too is blind 
"trust in the system"
is the motto that they teach
"question nothing,
so higher you can reach"
the land of the free
the home of the brave
only for those of us
content with being slaves
some will stand on street corners
holding big white signs
telling of injustice
held beneath our sights
but those who throw the bombs
which burn society down
those will be the shakers
for true freedom to be found
but the sheep still continue
to justify their life
ignoring others torment
blind to their strife
perpetuating failure
selling bankers souls
to keep on consuming
to get the best remote control
to build themselves a shield
what kind of life is this
numbness is a virtue
and ignorance is bliss
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Mccrorey Avatar
April 6, 2016 at 7:59 PM
Thanks for writing this poem. I know it speaks to me and many others. It is dark but beautiful.
A   Avatar
September 14, 2013 at 7:28 PM
Joanna, CONGRATULATIONS, on having your poem FEATURED on the soups Home Page:-). Good-Night **Linda**
May Avatar
September 11, 2013 at 4:33 PM
A powerful write on the society we live in today...well penned...
Lamoureux Avatar
September 3, 2013 at 8:15 AM
Brilliant piece, straight to my favorites.
Morgan Avatar
August 31, 2013 at 1:33 AM
amazing first poem here and very profound its the truth you speak or preach welcome to poetry soup by the way you take comments and you give comments to who you like simple advise for every poem you post try to give 2 comments to others minimum. . .x.
A  Avatar
August 29, 2013 at 2:00 AM
Joanna, , Your first poem on the soup is excellent for the readers, I love it!! Stopping by with a nice, sweet Welcome to Poetry Soup. Wishing you the best when it comes to your poems. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here. Starting with me. SKAT :-) Please drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you like. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND". Hugs* Skat *
Roth Avatar
August 28, 2013 at 4:13 PM
A masterpiece! --Alex
Pratap Avatar
August 28, 2013 at 2:11 AM
GREAT PIECE OF WORK
Andresen Avatar
August 28, 2013 at 2:10 AM
Welcome to P-Soup, JoAnna ! - Nice to read your first poem here. - Hope you will have much pleasure to be with us. - Wishing you good luck - have a nice day! - Comment on the poetry of others and they will comment on yours. - My first greeting to you from Norway / / / Anne-Lise :)
A   Avatar
August 27, 2013 at 8:10 PM
hello Joanna, , thank you for expressing your write and finding this site. -A nice warm WELCOME to poetry soup. Dropping by to invite you to my latest contest. You will find the contest page on the top left hand side* -Looking forward in following and reading your poetry. Hope to hear from you soon. You will enjoy the community, we are one big happy family. (Drama & Love. LOL) ~ Take Care!! From: your new poet friend @-> LINDA <-@
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