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 Gondwana Land on October 15, 2016:
A very hard-hitting commentary in verse form. Good work.
