This city is still underwater

lost in a time

of backroom deals and nepotism

tangled in the weeds

of the abandoned lots that litter every block.

Residents can pick their poison

from rising taxes

potty holes

smelly quarters

to stolen cars

corner stores

or hit and runs.

Transparency a ruse

for endless FEMA funds

a celebration of a people’s resilience

hiding nonexistent representation

and many stolen dreams.

Pomp and circumstance

at every turn

delays and lies given

under the fake familiarity

of sympathetic incompetence.

Such a grand design

masks the treacherous callousness

that allowed thousands to die

for systems of bureaucracy and red tape

meant to obfuscate and disguise

the trail of money

lining every pocket.

Jailings and oversight

not a worry for inbreed politicians

waiting on the plunder

from the next disaster.

© 2016 Marie Hurt

Comments

DDE on October 29, 2016:

You shared an important issue in a poem. The words certainly got my attention.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on October 16, 2016:

The sufferers are not the interest of those who prolong the underlying causes. You make a good spokesperson in your poetry.

Suhail Zubaid aka Clark Kent from Mississauga, ON on October 15, 2016:

This poem does a very critical commentary on the state of affairs regarding rehabilitation of New Orleans. It is a powerful poem.

Regards,

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on October 15, 2016:

This is an interesting and effective poem. The city that you describe has some serious problems.

Shyron E Shenko from Texas on October 15, 2016:

Marie, this is great, Blessings to you.

=*=*=*=*

So sad but true what a disaster can do

Bringing out the best

Bringing out the worst

Putting all to the test

Seeing who can stand tried and true

Ruby Jean Richert from Southern Illinois on October 15, 2016:

Reading this adds to my fear of bureaucracy that's so rampant all over the world. I feel for so many who are dealing with flooding and hurricanes. Stay safe...

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on October 15, 2016:

A very hard-hitting commentary in verse form. Good work.