in a culture of
elastic ethics and
hypnotically seductive
commercials
fast food slogans
invade our dreams
children beget children
who disappear under
neon glare while
dodging drive-by
bullets

in a world where
image is worshipped
sex is currency
money is god
pills called ecstasy have
taken the place of dime store
penny candy
prozac cocktails for breakfast
while watching
gay cartoons on a
saturday morning
constitutes quality downtime

in an era where
reality tv has
redefined what's real and
jackasses are admired
along with janet jackson's
breast
video games
become the teacher
while the foundations of
our schools crack
under the pressure of
moral decay

new generations
born
in the bosom of
moral decadence
don't understand the
import of what
went before the
dollar lost its
face value and
sex really meant
love
when character was
honored before image and
saturday morning
cartoons
weren't attacked by
closet faggot
fundamentalists

before--
free love gave way to
pandemics of AIDs STDs and
garbage can babies
before--
when families sat
together for a
home cooked meal that
wasn't deep fried in
week old oil
handled by strangers
before--
way before
adolescent alcoholism
was a right of passage and
oral sex was declared
going to third base by
thirteen year olds

new generations
born
in the lap of
moral decreptitude
don't comprehend the
implications of what
was before--way before
the seduction of urban corruption
became a cultural way of
birthing bleeding
loving crying
living dying

 ©  MRD 2005