Poems
by Gary Beck

 

The End of All Things

 

As the empire dissolves

madness accelerates,

breeding chaos.

Armed bands roam the country,

make dates

to fight other bands,

ignored by law enforcement.

The rich get richer

less and less concerned

with the well-being of others,

assuming the system

will continue to function

with fewer resources.

Opposing legislators

storm a congressional hearing,

similar to disorder past,

the Roman Senate,

the French Assembly,

and as dissolution looms

the great divide

between the haves

and the rest of us

grows wider,

while the deluded 1%

think they’ll avoid disaster

whether in other countries,

or artificial enclaves

constructed in America

to provide comforts,

while the rest of us

go down in flames.

 

 

 

 

 

Suicide

 

Our negligent leaders

send young troops

to dangerous lands

where enemies abound

of all ages,

intent on death to America.

Our young soldiers

grow up with comforts

unknown to Afghanis,

where life of hardship

prepares them

for explosive vests,

detonating themselves

for God and masters,

while our stressed troops

are traumatized

from horrific conditions

that make them despair

of normal life

and kill themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

Fleeting Glimpse

 

I saw a monarch butterfly,

ephemeral beauty

in the concrete city,

flutter a moment

unnoticed by most,

no concept of time

so the brief life

feels complete.

 

 

 

 

Fading Sway

 

Once we had an empire

made it run,

worked on it all the time.

Built with guns and dollars

lots of fun,

as long as we had rule.

Once we had an empire

now its done,

leaving us without a dime.

 

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