I Hear America Dying as inspired by I Hear America Singing–Walt Whitman 1819-1892

I hear America dying, perhaps Liberty’s last gasp I hear,

Those of entitled malingerers, lamenting things are not as they should be,

effort-free and unearned,

The Welfare cheat paying in stamps, driving away in a Lexus, a Beamer,

The chronically unemployed cashing 99 checks unmotivated,

hardly trying to find work, idle

The Phone Lady screeching “If we help him. He’ll give us mo’,”

the parasitic example held up as desirable and just,

The over-educated, under-qualified college graduate complaining as he sits

on his mother’s couch, unwilling to take the starter job,

The skilled carpenter’s lament, or the laid-off painter’s worry on the morning bus,

empty lunchbox at noon, and hungry wife and child at night,

The despair of the lonely children fending for themselves,

as teen baby-mamas languish in poverty, as absent baby-daddies go scot-free,

The insidious envy and jealousy sewn by politicians, relentless warfare,

always wanting, lacking,

Each demanding “fairness” for what belongs to me or you,

The citizens’ rights usurped by the trespassers—on street, hostile gangs,

punks, replace family, self-worth traded for false bravado,

cursing Truth with open mouths, closed hearts, empty hands taking and taking.

I hear America dying, perhaps Liberty’s last gasp, I fear.