Third World

People wander through the park
aimless, relaxed, cheerful,
enjoying the moment
without the faintest idea
our frayed society
is careening to disaster.
Unlike other times
in history
when coincidence,
miracle, proper actions
saved the day,
the paucity of our leaders
painfully reminds us
they cannot help us
and most don’t ever care.

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.