The 99 by William Steiskal

The 99

The number 9 in Japanese Culture is a homonym of the word for pain and suffering.

By William Steiskal Ó 2011

When the Twins fell

The 99 rushed to their aid

Into that smoking cement canyon it rained

Both the living and the dead

Some were recovered that day

By those that sacrificed …and prayed



While searching for the missing

Their fate was unknown

They cleared that toxic avalanche

Then grew sick and alone

They asked for assistance as many of them died

Only to be told the nightmare is over

Run along and hide



The 99 now occupy those very same streets

Financial Giants can no longer be ignored

Evicting the continuum of self interest is at stake

America’s business as usual can exist no more

A sweeping revolution has reached the front gate

Are you going to tell them to go eat cake?



Engine rooms of wealth and excess

Hide behind our Representatives doors

Armies of Lobbyists barter for influence

While the 99 clean their floors

Parades of politicians

Concerned about their own fate

Obstruct the system that put them there

Pretending to debate



It’s the 99 who grow and distribute

The food on your table

The clothes on your back

And when young and able



Fight all of your wars

Recycle your waste

Support your lifestyles

With dignity and grace



They teach your children

With dwindling supplies

And yet when they voice their needs

You tell them to run along and hide



Years of empty slogans

Poured from the pitcher of hope

Has watered the fields of cynicism

These are the words that you spoke

“Putting People First”

“Change We Can Believe In”

“Kinder Gentler Nation”

“Compassionate Conservatism”

“Yes We Can!”

But when the 99 express their needs

You refuse to include them in your plans



You quote Reaginomics and Free Trade

Tea Party economics is the way

Let us take you to the austerity ball

Where you can dance for your existence

And have nothing at all



You deny collective bargaining when you can

Accepting the bullion of corporate treasure

To finance your stand

Bonuses in the Millions

Profits in the Billions

The insecurity of the masses

Schools cutting classes

Banks that won’t disclose

Robo-signed homes that are foreclosed



This is the legacy left in your wake

Tattooed generations have accepted their fate

Many turned toward this culture of greed

Hoping once and for all to be freed



They floated their dreams on risky loans

The waters were calm when they walked on its’ surface

Betting their homes, savings and goals

Their dreams sank like stones

Leaving their lives shattered

Nowhere to go



Who are these 99 as if we care

Let them clutter the streets feeling unfair

They all must be addicts, alcoholics, unemployed

Class warfare seems rampant nationwide

They’re gaming the system

Too lazy to work

No dignity or pride

There’s food on their fork

And so goes these dialogs

To assuage your fear

Let’s sing the song of denial

Into next year



Greed

We’ll all pretend

It doesn’t exist

Let’s do it again



(…and repeat)