I learned

HoundDog in Kansas City is not in Kansas City today. Nor is he anywhere near a keyboard. However, he asked me to post this original poem of his on the day of Scatablog's grand re-opening in his absence. So, here it is:

I Learned


I learned in school as a child,
Our unalienable rights are life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
Not the law of the land,
but every American believed
We each could become all we were capable of,
and the pursuit would be fair.

I learned in church as a child,
We should love our neighbors,
Even neighbors far away.
This applied to Christians and Jews.

Do unto others as you want them to treat you.
Even secular humanists and all religions
have teachings akin to the Golden Rule,

I believed these were the principles guiding America.

Stupid me.

Gradually I learned that things in the land of the free
are much differently principled.

Conflating fear and lies is good politics.
When reality gets in the way, deny, deny.
If you’re poor, it’s your own fault,
If you’re rich, you’ve living right,
Call them traitors when they disagree,
Ignore the needy far away.
Ignore your needy countrymen, too.
Tell your base what they want to hear,
but take care of your moneyed buddies.

Remember, dear leader knows our principles;
he and his won the election.

I have learned. But I can’t see very clearly.
Tears blur my vision.