Criminalizing Poverty? Poem by Mark Heathcote

Why are we not criminalising poverty?
Is it not cruel to govern people unfairly?
To help people out demographically
The whole world over—is that wrong, scarcely?

Why, then, are we not criminalising poverty?
Why are these tax-avoidance vultures still circling?
Why do they not stay perched in their lavish condominiums?
Are they so fat with wealth that they don't care for that life?

What is our commonality in low- and minimal-paid work?
Why are we not criminalising poverty?
In this twenty-first century
from bonds, we allow money to be printed out of thin air.
So our elected governments can promise likewise thin air.

Why are we not criminalising poverty?
Why do all the newspapers focus on crass celebrities?
What is our commonality in low- and minimal-paid work?
That all might descend into poverty, feeling little more than dirt.