strength of the one

since when did freedom
get defined by cash?
how did my value
lose stature and crash?

how did my life
get stacked against money?
how did my liberty
lose out to financial cunning?

when did the corporation
take precedent over me?
how did group-think
overtake individuality?

when did "pursuit of happiness"
get defined as riches?
when did my dignity
lose out to sons of bitches?

when did art fall prey
to salability?
when did popular appeal
start to define credibility?

when did human value
become divyed in classes?
why should the strength of the one
be subservient to the masses?

© 2008 BY W GARY FORRESTER

they as us

someone pointed the way today
cleared a path for me
showed me
held my hand
it felt like they cared
in a scolding way
pity maybe
if not love

that human touch though
touched my soul
gave me
security abreast
it felt like they cared
in an insecure way
pathetic maybe
if not empathy

not exactly warmth
but yet not cold
guiding me
encouraging
it reached out to me
in a guarded way
frightened perhaps
but present

i love humanity still
in spite of us
thrilling me
caring
touching everyone
cautiously
knowing deep inside
we're the same

we can't escape our fleshly link
tying one to all
feeling me
wanting to know
understanding
gently
the struggle we share
together

you know me inside
in spite of the hate
we grow
bound as one
living
dependent
leaning and pushing
alive

i am thankful for the touch
the strangers hand
of camaraderie
love me as you
and i'll love you as me
we
they as us
joined

© 2007 BY W. GARY FORRESTER