American Screams

old America is dead.
it went the way of
the cowboy.

it went the way
of the middle class.

it drowned on greed.

it starved itself of
its hopes and dreams
and sold its ass
to the highest bidder.

old America
cried itself to sleep
one night,
long ago,
slipped into a coma,
and never awoke.

but we have a
new America
with pretty lights
and flashing screens.

it is owned by
the rich.

no need to worry,
they'll tell you
what they want
you to know.

they will give you
what they feel
you deserve.

they will take away
what they believe
you will not need
for your journey
through the fire.

they will house you
like sardines and
blame it on the cost
of housing.

they will keep your wages
low and blame it on the
lack of economic stability.

they will lower the gas prices
like throwing a bone
to a hungry dog,
and you will eat
what they give you.

they will smile
and say
there is no need
for concern,
you have a new iGadget,
right? that means you're
getting ahead. that means
you're bettering yourself.
don't worry about retirement.
don't worry about the weather.
don't bother yourself
with trivial matters.
and right on the button,
they'll give you another
police shooting to distract you
while they give away your
means
of supporting yourself.

maybe they'll give you
a new Russel Brand
to love for a minute
and hate in the next.

maybe they'll show you
an ethnically diverse candidate
running on Hope and Change
to herd you like cattle
into the voting booth.

but, in the end, they will
only give you
what they want to give you,
and cleverly disguise it
as a choice.
not enough choices?
here's a new type of gun
and they'll call it the tea party
or an independent. that'll get
you moving. that will make up
for the shit they throw on a plate
and call diner.