radiation oranges
if I am filled
with hate
it is
because
humanity
has given me
much reason
to hate
nevertheless
I still feel it
when it’s
a beautiful day
and I am still
capable
of learning
from my mistakes
and I am still
filled with
compassion
perhaps more so
than most …
anyway,
perhaps things
will get better
going forward
stranger things
have happened
so long as
we don’t lose our way
any further
and no one pushes
the nuclear button….
the homeless of New York
I remember them all
the homeless of New York
black, white, men, women
the men leaning up against walls
holding out styrofoam cups
I always gave a dollar to one or another
of them
and they would always say
thank you, sir and I was only 12
I remember the woman
who was lying in front of our door
I had to step over her—
what else could I do?
there was the one guy
who was so hungry he was crying
see, the powers that be
want it this way
cuz it’s good for their
bottom line
we’re all caught in this world
they’ve created
and maybe there ain’t enough
compassion
or maybe there ain’t enough
money to go around
with the 1% hogging it all
a fine world this is
where some are left with
nothing—
no home, no hope,
not even enough food to eat.
