Who's stories do we tell ?

Who’s stories do we tell,

who’s threads do we weave within our own ?

Are we planting seeds in fertile ground or simply sowing stones ?

 

We used to have folk heroes,

those who fought for the common good,

stories born of sacrifice and doing what you could

to ensure a better lot

for those with whom we share this earth,

but darkness has subverted and misguided the myths birth

 

For now the stories are all gilded

and tell of the rise to top positions,

of excess, pomp and riches, and material acquisitions,

vacuous and empty,

save for candy of the eyes,

and the death of grander visions came in luxurious disguise  

 

The eyes have now replaced the heart

as the means to feed the soul,

and when we hunger for the outer we lose all sense of control

We tell the rich’s stories,

empty glamour lived on sets,

whilst ignoring those who’s struggle we all owe so many debts

 

Rosa Parks has been replaced

with the Real Housewives of New Jersey,

and the onslaught of the intellect refuses to show mercy

Justin Biebers now a household name,

whilst Jonas Salk’s forgotten,

picture perfect images whilst cores have slowly rotten,

Che’s legacy’s  been relegated

to the obscurity of the past,

the message of Martin and Malcolm is now coming in dead last

 

We lavish attention on the popular,

and forget those with no names,

those too busy surviving to get caught up in fancy games,

heroes fighting evil

have been neutered and removed,

for hope outside of capitalism must be constantly disproved   

 

Forgetting the fight for those freedoms

that we now simply take for granted,

and any further struggles been successfully supplanted,

we’ve taken bribes of excess,

pockets of silver to ignore,

yet heads stuck under pillows won’t stop the pounding at the door

Reviews

[DCT ponderings]

I enjoyed this. James Patterson wrote that life is absurd and meaningless. Each day I am reminded of this very fact and your poem reminding of why, of all we've lost.

[anartao]

It is most definitely absurd, and we are losing the meaning a little more each day, but the fact that there is an awareness of this, at least from some, gives me hope that it can be reversed and overcome. Thanks for the review !

[DCT ponderings]

One can hope....