Kinship

The cities in the Western World
have cancerous slums
that consume millions,
but are far removed
from wealthy neighborhoods,
business districts,
shopping centers,
entertainment areas,
creating an illusion
that poverty doesn’t exist.

The cities in the Eastern world
have pandemic slums
that consume tens of millions,
and spill their denizens,
poor, ragged, hungry, diseased
into wealthy neighborhoods
business districts,
shopping centers,
entertainment areas
shattering the illusion
that poverty doesn’t exist.

Gary Beck spent his life as a theater director/playwright. He has had 21 poetry books, 7 novels, 3 short story collections and 1 book of essays published. Gary’s original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City, where he resides. Read other articles by Gary.