PREDATORS OF THE POOR

After posting my poem “The Omnipotent Ones,” I received a comment that “Rhyme demands too much tugging and pulling. It is then that free verse wins.” I appreciate her input.

While I enjoy writing poems that rhyme, I occasionally succumb to free verse. I decided to see how my poem would come out if I were to use free verse style.

When I shared it with my writers’ group they agreed that the free verse was stronger and suggested that it needed a new name. Here it is. I agree with my group that the free verse wins. I hope you will decide for yourself which form has more meaning to you.

I know those of you who are experiencing the trauma of divorce, especially when you lose most of what you own, and are faced with economic challenges will identify with portions of this poem.

PREDATORS OF THE POOR

They are the pompous pride filled ones perceiving themselves to be all knowing and all powerful. Unable to see their impotence before God they prance about in their tailored refinery.

Speaking in eloquent tomes before the masses, they present a charade of false accomplishments. Their actions belie their words. Conducting never ending investigations, purporting to seek the truth, they present endless reports, upon which they rarely act.

Concocting up committees, with their corporate cronies, they collude in the darkness of night to gain concurrence from their colleagues to pass corrupt codes.

Concealing their deeds from the sleeping populace under the cloak of darkness.

Their hands are ever ready to receive rich rewards from wealthy demagogues bent on the destruction of the working poor. Ever touting a “trickledown theory” of economy, while in reality they “siphon up” from the masses they purport to serve.

They steal from the coffers of the people to present their offerings to the greedy barons of finance. Rewarding them for their grievous crimes against their fellow man. Bailing them out with billions while neglecting the penniless poor and their plight.

Working class families, whose dream homes have fallen into the hands of merciless investors, now know them as harbingers of harm to the homeless.

Their actions defy our mighty Lord, whose heart is set toward the poor. Their greed is a stench to the nostrils of a Holy God. His arm is bared, his bow is bent.

Soon the souls of these robbers of the innocents, these predators of the poor, shall quake before the omnipotent Lord of righteousness. Their fate lies in the hands of an angry God!

This poem is a free verse representation of my earlier poem titled, “The Omnipotent Ones”. It is based on observations of recent events interpreted in the light of Psalm 73. To understand where the poet is coming from, it is suggested you review this Psalm before reading this poem.

Don E. Cunningham, Author/poet ©7/4/08 474