Suicidal patriotism

Acid snowflakes burn holes
in the outstretched tongues
of playing children

bums gouge out bloody eyes
with shards of broken
green glass bottles

the land is owned and run
by the pompous rich and
self bloated politicians

we can't afford our medications
or the gasoline paying for
yet another useless war

we trade dreams for guns
and pay the rent
with our flesh and spirit

this is what america has become,
this is the life of slow death.

1998

(Note:This is not an anti_America piece, it's an anti-government/society piece)