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The sins of the nation
are visited upon its citizens.
We shouted long and hard
until bullets dropped
on Jacksonville and Kent State.
And that war stopped amid shouts
“Make war no more !”.
War must be stopped at every border
to end the slaughter
of its sons and daughters.
“Make war no more”
the children shouted
barefoot and flowered
and fought the greed
in second-hand shops
and public gardens
and programs to up-lift those trampled
by endless war which still continued
because it is never enough
to halt the greed of those in power
hidden under rocks with prejudice
and hate who think themselves great
and lie to themselves, and us, hour by hour
smiling through games they create
to keep us all entertained
chasing dreams of American idols
with sports and drink
gambling on undermined dreams
that can only come true
for a celebrated few
who are told to take
whatever they need
at our expense,
and watch our liberties lost
while sitting on their fence.
We have become country-less
within our own borders
as war is made, now against us.
And, the world goes on
as our nation dies
snuffed out under a blanket
of base-less lies.
Greed destroys and religion belies
so long as it gains larger roofs,
and takes over and strafes
those sitting in its pews
praying with true intent
“make war no more”.
A nation once thought heaven-sent
has lost its religion to endless greed
and our only lament
is the cost of goods?
“It’s the economy, stupid”
no longer applies, if it ever did
except to pretend their actions
are for our own good.
It has not and never has been.
Great Pirates and Robber Barons
never recognize borders
when committing their sins.
Native Americans and those we enslaved
are always attacked for
showing us the truth.
Gaining wealth is not the sin.
Greed is our greatest sin.
We must stop it on the borders
without and within.
Greed shored up with power
is the story of the hour.
Even those afraid to wake
are now learning
what the woke always
knew to be true.
The greedy care only
about themselves,
not me, and not you.
We end where we begin,
mired by our own sin.
annarino writes 