Luxury cars displayed, glass-encased,
a stone’s throw from where
people make their homes
under flyovers.
Leafy suburbs, all high walls and gated communities,
where the fat pony’s stable
is a step up
from the best built shack.
Assuage your guilt by paying someone
to mow your lawn
or clean your house
for a cut above the minimum wage.
Turn your head away, un-see them all;
the beggar by the robot,
the thin woman with the baby on her back
picking through the trash.
Don’t look back
Don’t glance over your shoulder.
It’s all still there.
High up, in your shiny city apartment
overlooking the city-bright lights
you forget the people
shivering on the street.
South Africa is the most unequal country in the world and reading this post from Sadje last week impelled me to write this.
Note: ‘robot’ is what we call a traffic light here.
luna's on line 
Powerful social commentary – great work!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks, Tom 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So hart hitting. And a truth most monied people avoid at all costs. I salute people like Bill Gates who is working to address some of these issues.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s true, there are good people out there who do make a real difference. Such a huge problem, but every small change for the better is positive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow that’s powerful. I would also never have known a “robot” was a traffic signal!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂 only surpassed by ‘glorieta’ the Spanish for roundabout!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh yeah…now that you mention it I have heard that!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Beautifully put, Chris. You’re right, we too often ‘forget the people/ shivering on the street’
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Cath 🙂 Sadly, it’s all too obvious here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once we begin to look around, honestly, I think it’s common to most cities and towns. Most of us live in a convenient hurry, I think.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sad but true.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautifully sad poem. And yet what have we done? We’ve delegated that which we don’t want to do upon those who don’t have a choice but to do it, and the stigma settles. I know there are plenty who like to think humans are good at heart, but it’s moments like this where I gotta stand by the Bible’s talk of the Old Adam: the sinful nature in us. We want to do what WE want to do, and be damned how that affects others.
Sorry, I know it’s dour, but moments of life like this make it hard to think otherwise. 😦 So it’s time to break from that inner selfishness and share, even if that sharing is just a hug. What a kind world it would be if we all shared hugs! xxxxxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Such a lovely thought – share a hug 🙂 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mankind would be so wonderful if we all treated others with kindness. Excellent post!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Diane!
LikeLiked by 1 person