It’s clearly their own fault that they can’t get ahead.
They’re lazy and stupid and just want a free ride.
They’re a burden on others and failure’s their habit.
Don’t notice their struggles for dignity, pride.
The child in the ghetto deserved his harsh fate.
His mom had no reason to yield to despair.
His father was worse, his crimes were his choice.
Never mind that desperation is why his folks both weren’t there.
The women had “asked for it,” hadn’t planned well enough.
They made their own hurdles, which made their lives tough.
Ignore that today’s food and a roof overhead
Diverted time and budget from "thinking ahead."
Their factory’s owner took the risk and domain;
He knows its employees have no claim to his gains.
It’s okay to believe there’s less worth in their lives;
Their labor should profit everyone but themselves.
With phenomenal courage, they applied for new work,
And hoped their new training would fix any lack.
Yes, Personnel was right to deny their applications;
They’ve no credit at all in the past generations.
They should have invested, at least for their homes;
Forget that redlined regions restricted their loans.
They should have worked harder; they should have learned more.
Disregard that that learning, long overdue,
rarely is offered to those who are poor.
No one really coerced the lives that they chose.
They should have foreseen opportunity’s doors.
It couldn’t be a system that created a prison
of tenets and mindsets that hold back the poor.
It is all their own fault…
Or is it?