Mini Kingdoms Within A State That Bragged Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Reality comes to hit hard,
Munipalities.
Treated and acting as if,
Mini kingdoms within a state that bragged...
About an affluence,
Long ago lived...
In a 'we are the richest' state there is.
From a past wished now to continue.

A collective mindset does not exist.
Cities allowed homelessness and hunger,
To persist on the backs of low paid wagers.
The 'haves' have always accused the 'have nots'...
Of being shiftless and lazy.
When jobs from them were taken and not given.
As those who were rich,
Separated themselves in suburban divisions.

Now they find dimes to spend are few.
Minds invested in their futures...
Were incompetently limited, hidden and subdued.
Those outcast and ostracized,
Were slandered and defamed and criticized...
For an outspokenness that addressed deceit and lies.
The rich and the poor now see eye to eye.
But a bigotry does not feed...
Upon an ignorance fed to breed superficiality.