Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Have Mercy


image from pinterest.com


Have Mercy

“For those who expect to reap the blessings of
freedom--they must undergo the fatigues of
supporting it.”--Thomas Paine

To the coal miner,
who has been out of work for years,
now addicted to heroin,
who voted for Trump:
“Blessings be upon you.”

To the 25 year old veteran,
losing three limbs to a roadside bomb,
who now only has the VA 
to count on for help
to repair his mangled body
and tortured soul:
To be an American is to enjoy the blessings
of liberty, freedom, and justice for all.”

To the truncated Syrian family
living in a huge refugee camp,
having their single meal of the day--
moldy bread, rancid rice, & grass soup:
“Oh Allah ! Bless this food you have 
provided us.”

To the 12 year  old
newly initiated gang member,
who helped beat an old woman
to death for her tattered purse,
forced to go to church
by his grandparents
who he lives with,
since his father is in prison.
and his mother died of a drug overdose,
who is taking communion:
“Taste and see that the Lord is good--
blessed are the ones who take refuge in him.”

To the 15 year old girl
who is pregnant
after being raped by her father,
who no longer can be helped
by the under-funded Planned Parenthood:
“God bless America. You know I get things
done--and in the end, everybody likes me.”

--Donald J. Trump.


Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub

16 comments:

brudberg said...

What a bone shattering dystopian poem, the contrast between the blessings and reality is heartbreaking, and I wander - is there not a better world somewhere

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

So difficulat to read........some people live their hell on earth.

sarah said...

Bitter blessings indeed.

Anonymous said...

A powerful write as always from you Glenn. Here in the darkest recesses of humanity blessings may seem to fall on stony ground and not take seed but even from under the deepest concrete a flower may grow.

Frank Hubeny said...

Blessings from Donald. Dark. We'll have to see how they work out.

Kim M. Russell said...

An ironic blessing - heavy on the iron. Nice one, Glenn!

Alison H said...

So terribly sad, we really aren't taking very good care of each other are we....I think "bone shattering" is appropriate...We need to be kinder to our fellow man/woman.

Maude Lynn said...

Sharp, biting, and smart.

indybev said...

Such an evocative write, Glenn. My first effort was a sort of counting of my blessings, but when I read it from the perspective of those left fortunate it seemed self-serving and I discarded it. While I'm grateful for my blessings, I'm all too aware of those who struggle for barest survival. You bring that home in startling fashion. Bravo

Grace said...

The harsh realities of life can be devastating ~ I love how you described each heartbreaking scenario, and give your blessings Glenn ~ May we be blessed with giving such mercy and compassion to others ~

Unknown said...

I can't help but endorse the sarcasm in this poem.

Jane Dougherty said...

Which just goes to show the uselessness of being blessed. Doesn't make life any easier.

Sascha Darlington said...

You don't pull punches here. These are the realities some seem unable to see. I hope they may be blessed anyway.

Gayle Walters Rose said...

That sarcasm didn't go unnoticed by me either. The contrast of "reality" and the empty "blessings" are startling. Excellent, Glenn.

Jenna said...

Wow. Well done!

harada57 said...
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