by Sharon Alsop
Paid dues to society
Supported youth, needy, old
Worked hard at belonging
Gave to church, community
Family raised, migrated away
Once stood at door of youth
Passed into middle twilight
Drifted slowly to golden years
Who came up with that logic?
No golden in old
Still paying dues to society
Groceries, mortgage, products
All chipping away dignity
Call on help from society
As crises arrives at doorstep
Health slipping into payments
The old cannot afford
The forgotten, helplessly wait
Where has the compassion gone?
Programs, abolished for needy
Society settled into selfishness
Forsaking older generation
Telling them society cannot afford
To pay for their dignity, their expenses
Let them slip into death
Where the forgotten dwell
