Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash
Gary Beck
Campaign Season
Our land is swept by violence,
ferocious terror attacks
eroding the public hope of safety,
police conflicts with communities,
foreign wars, domestic strife,
all combining to frighten us
for the future of our children.
The politicians promise
jobs, tranquility, education
that will better our lives
and many of us believe them,
even though good jobs are gone
never to return to our shores,
except for those who can share
in the many benefits
of the Information Age.
The politicians promise
free college education,
freedom from student debt,
but they never tell us
where they’ll find the money
to pay for the vast costs.
The politicians promise
safe communities,
but too many are paid servants
of special interests, the NRA,
who believe the mentally ill,
criminals, terrorists,
have a constitutional right
to purchase automatic weapons,
profit more important
than a danger to the people.
As our empire diminishes,
as our economy crumbles
vociferous leaders
promise a better tomorrow
if only we believe them,
vote for them,
elect them.
Then, whatever happens,
they’ll blame others,
explain it away,
find any excuse, any explanation
to assure the public
it wasn’t their fault.
Election Time
Presidential candidates
pervade the airwaves,
tv, cable, internet,
proclaiming intentions
to make things better
for the American people,
if only we elect them.
It does not seem to matter
that promises of more jobs
will only be service jobs,
since no one asks
what kind of jobs.
If you don’t have a job
and you need one
to support your family,
any job is a good job,
except if you’re outside the system
and prefer crime, drug dealing,
public assistance,
to flipping burgers.
Going back to school
for job retraining
is beyond the conception of many,
beyond the abilities of so many,
diminishing opportunity
generating desperation,
impelling us to vote
for the most persuasive,
although whatever they do
may not make a difference
as we careen towards disaster.
Power Politics
The cycle of democracy
allows Americans
a new President
every four or eight years.
And most citizens believe
he or she is elected honorably,
never realizing
that the hirelings of the rich
are there to serve the rich,
interests of the people
easily neglected.
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Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theatre director, and as an art dealer when he couldn’t make a living in theatre. He has published eleven chapbooks and has three more accepted for publication. His poetry collections include: Days of Destruction (Skive Press), Expectations (Rogue Scholars Press), Conditioned Response (Nazar Look), Resonance (Dreaming Big Publications), Virtual Living (Thurston Howl Publications), and Dawn in Cities, Assault on Nature, Songs of a Clerk, Civilized Ways, Displays, Perceptions, Fault Lines & Tremors (Winter Goose Publishing). Perturbations, Rude Awakenings and The Remission of Order will be published by Winter Goose Publishing. His novels include: Extreme Change (Cogwheel Press), Flawed Connections (Black Rose Writing) and Call to Valor (Gnome on Pigs Productions), as well as Sudden Conflicts (Lillicat Publishers) and State of Rage (Rainy Day Reads Publishing). His short story collection is titled A Glimpse of Youth (Sweatshoppe Publications). His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off-Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines. He currently lives in New York City.
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