Author Information
GENTRIFICATION BLUES
Folder:
CANNIBALIZED HAIBUN
They couldn’t stop gentrification although it was a noble effort. The hipsters and yuppies still emerged from the ooze with their latté coffees to ravage communities and displace the poor. The greedy landlords gleefully threw out the elderly and the meek. It was a crying shame.
What we call upgrade
diminishes life for some
leaves them heartbroken
And yet even with their progress and their march toward modernization and high society, the vengeance of Mother Nature was unyielding. The growth of trees and bushes continued. Grass and dandelions poked through concrete sidewalks and scavenger squirrels and possum made their way into protected communities. It seems a greater power may indeed exist. We didn’t protect the poor and the weak. We let our greed get in the way and we will pay a price.
The high price we pay
we ignore the common good
greed guides down the path
unrighteous in our intent
karma swings a mighty stick
