Taking His Cue On Nike Shoes Poem by RIC BASTASA

i know mr. lou about the story
of the nike shoe
about corporate
imperialism in the world
of the little girl
somewhere in India
stitching
the nike in the shoe
bound
for the ads: made in the USA

AND you bought a pair
of nike shoes
and you are confused
about the thought
you gave
to the little girl whose
hands
bleed the blood
of imperial oppression

we discussed this matter
over a glass of beer
after
a class in economics

it roots down
to this

the poor getting poorer
and the rich getting richer
thing

it boils down
to
i know but what can i do?

that has always been
the situation and it has always been the question asked
since
time immemorial, a cliche of our ancestors who welcome

oppression like a good neighbor
and who thrive in such an arrangement
by reason
of tolerance and just to make

precious peace
a dream about harmony and just being
civil about
economic war and be at peace with everybody
no deal

you are confused, mr. lou
about the nike shoe

it boils down to this:
i am just a speck of dust in this universe,

yes, what can you really do, Mr. Lou?