Thank You

I’d like to thank the poor families
The families without
That know how to choose
Choose between meals and gasoline
Choose between a school and a factory
Choose between humiliation and starvation
Choose the church that laps up their tithes
The non-profit that avoids paying taxes
That sends the money back to the US
As a donation to a university full not-poor kids
To subsidize their tuition
To reduce the financial burden on their families
The families that applaud from the suburbs
Pink-faced and clapping for the church
And its sacred wealth
So thank you poor families
Without you I would be a little less rich

-T. Weeks
(A response to “Out from Behind This Mask [To Confront a Portrait]”)