Corporations
Kari enjoys writing poetry. There is a certain freedom in poetry because you don't always have to follow the rules.
We, the People
"We, the people”—not we, the white people—not we, the citizens, or the legal voters—not we, the privileged class, and excluding all other classes, but we, the people; not we, the horses and cattle, but we, the people—the men and women, the human inhabitants of the United States, do ordain and establish this Constitution, etc."
Frederick Douglass
You Are Not Human
You are not like me.
You do not have a heart
(Nor compassion or mercy).
You do not represent humanity.
Humanity made you
Then you took control.
Still, you are not like me.
You never had a toothache.
You never were sick.
You have never been "down and out".
You are never homeless.
You never took out a paycheck loan.
You want.
In fact, you want excessively.
You threaten and intimidate the real us.
You will never go to jail.
You think you are indestructible,
But even the Sphinx lost face.
You have never had a drink.
You have never had a drink,
Refreshingly cool,
After a day of labor.
You have never been rendered speechless
By the incredible clarity of art.
You have never seen art.
You have never jumped
To make the shot while in the zone.
You have never been in the zone.
All these are human doings,
Relationships, and love.
You have never had one.
You are not a human.
I am a human.
But, I work for you.
You are not a human.
You have never had a love,
You have never cared.
You are not a human
You are not a human.
The law claims you are a "person".
But, you are not human.
How can you be a person?
if you are not human?
Aren't all people human?
Or, was it all humans are people?
It’s the riddle of the century
That some "persons" are not human.
You are not human.
But you pollute.
You sacrifice nature.
You do not care if
Humans can't drink the water,
Or breathe the air.
You are not human.
You don't drink.
You don't breathe.
You are not human.
So, how can you
Be a "person".
You are not invested enough,
You have nothing to lose,
You have no love.
You are not human
You do not answer to humanity.
You are not human.
Then why are you a person?
We are human
And, we are people.
Who are these others?
We, the real people,
Are confused. Are
We real? Do we matter?
You claim personhood
As if being a person
Is something you may assign.
You are not human
You will never be human,
Much less humane.
You are a user.
You use humans
To make you rich
You may have a bank account
But how? Can a dog have an account?
You are not a human.
Every decade humans
make less
While you make more.
You treat us as slaves
To be pushed about
But, you are not human.
You were not made in God's image.
You are cold and sterile
Yet you act as God to humans.
Our government is run
For the people, by the people,
But now you are the "person"
Our government is for.
© 2020 Kari Poulsen
Comments
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on June 12, 2020:
Thank you Brenda! I am sorry it took me so long to answer.
BRENDA ARLEDGE from Washington Court House on June 03, 2020:
Kari,
I love the way you wrote this poetry.
The words speak truth. It is an awareness that needs pointed out.
Thanks for sharing.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 25, 2020:
Thanks James!
James A Watkins from Chicago on May 24, 2020:
Neat. I like it. Thanks.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
Thank you, Dora. That is the attitude I was going for.
Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on May 24, 2020:
You speak for so many. The in-your-face tone is very effective. Good work!
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
Pamela, I think we should have put some conditions on the large corporations our government gave money to. Instead, the government wants to protect them from litigation and liability in keeping humans safe during reopening. I believe we should have told corporations they need to keep their workers safe, or they will sued.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
Bill, power does seem to make people feel above the law. I believe the complaints of the workers that Amazon is not doing enough to protect them. Meanwhile, Amazon posts publically they are spending so much money keeping their workers safe. But, really, they are spending money, just not enough to actually give employees confidence.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
Thanks Eric. I agree that actual humans hide behind corporations. And the actual humans who make the decisions should also go to jail for illegal activities.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
FlourishAnyway, very flawed! It is one of the few things in life that make me angry. I think it is a righteous anger based on all the things they have stolen from the real people, the humans.
Kari Poulsen (author) from Ohio on May 24, 2020:
Thank you very much, Mr. Happy. I think making corporations "persons" is one of America's biggest mistakes. I agree completely that money and paid lobbying should be taken out of politics. I, too, think laws need to change. Maybe we could go back to the charter system.
Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on May 24, 2020:
Kari, this poem is sad for sure and I wish is wasn't true.
Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on May 24, 2020:
Sad but true poetry! Look out for Amazon! I've been shouting that warning for about five years now. It has become much too powerful, and power breeds contempt for law.
Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on May 24, 2020:
This is one area where we do not hang the lawyers. It is through extremely hard work by plaintiff's lawyers that corporations are held in at least some checks. Litigation and Jury Verdicts are what corporations need to be at least somewhat responsible. Alter Egos is fascinating.
I like the poetry.
FlourishAnyway from USA on May 23, 2020:
Simply fabulous. That Supreme Court ruling was very flawed.
Mr. Happy from Toronto, Canada on May 23, 2020:
I'm not getting into it 'cause if I do, I'm gonna write an essay (I don;t do poetry). Nonetheless, we need some laws changed. Corporations are not people - people hide behind corporations and use them to their benefit. Okay ... I'm starting to get into it and that's not good. Haha!!
Also, money needs to be taken out of politics. That's how "corporations" are "persons": politicians got bribed through legal bribery, which got a fancy term: "lobbying". Then, "corporations became "persons".
Sigh ... it's late, I'm off to bed but thank You for your poem raising awareness. I for one appreciate it. All the very best!