Where's the Poetry?

Recently I was witness to a homeless man obviously hungry, peeling slivers of his beef jerky off for his dogs. Needless to say, the picture motivated some help from me.

Where’s the Poetry…
                     by Odin Roark

Where’s the poetry
In out of touch politicians
Finding nothing their derelict conscience
Can address?

Where’s the poetry
In a homeless family
Through no fault of their own
Must endure cold
Hunger
Rejection
Vilification by the ignorant?

And lest we forget

Where’s the poetry
In the sadness of an abandoned pet
Filling alleys
Vacant lots
Fields
Drain ditches
While former owners
Party
Or perhaps just refuse
To maintain the responsibility
Fulfilling their obligation as a pet owner?

Where’s the poetry
In a new year so full of misery
For the underpaid
The discriminated against
Recipients of hatred
Compassion-void observers

Where’s the poetry
In sadness
So dense
There’s no room
For light to reach it
To give a poet images
To exercise some sympathy
Empathy
Perhaps
Even some tangible help?

Words can help heal
If they can be seen
Heard
Read

So I ask you

Where’s the poetry
In a country whose back is turned?