Does it Sting to know

You cannot afford justice
Will never know what peace is
How fragile we are 
In the face of unfairness
To you, equality does not apply
Not even in theory do you qualify
I hope you are ready, because ...
With your unmet needs, you will die

No one cares for you; they never did, I'd bet
For you, this is as good as it's going to get
Since we know nothing of restorative justice
The scales will never tilt in your favour
You will never get out on good behaviour
And even if you do, what is there to get out to
Currently, the world does not want you
Unless you are there to entertain (refrain)
The more things change, they remain the same

Old guards maintain the status quo
New generations go along as you've seen
You try to deny it, but you already know 
And life will go on as it goes
Your years pass in a haze of anonymity
While they give you just enough to pacify
Soothing you into that auto-pilot slumber
So subtly, you won't even realize you're under

Fragile by Sting has been replaying in my head for the last few days. This poem is the result.

Photo by Daniel Lincoln on Unsplash

© 2024 Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.