Know Thy Oppressors

After Congress displayed
indifference to the suffering
inflicted on the people
because they would not agree
on fiscal policy,
the loss of jobs, services,
further weakened
a staggering nation
already reeling
from economic woes,
making us yearn
for old-fashioned corruption
rather than basic greed,
eroding the fabric
of a troubled land.

Gary Beck has spent most of his adult life as a theater director and worked as an art dealer when he couldn't earn a living in the theater. He has also been a tennis pro, a ditch digger and a salvage diver. His original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off Broadway. His poetry, fiction and essays have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and his published books include 40 poetry collections, 16 novels, 4 short story collections, 2 collection of essays and 8 books of plays. Gary lives in New York City. Read other articles by Gary.