POLITICAL Poem: Every Body Counts, by G.A. costa

4 in the morning

The farmers come to pop us out of our amniotic sacs,
tossing us into the daily grinder;
every body counts
to keep the Machine alive.

They instruct us, but never teach.
We memorize facts, but forget how joy once felt.

We pledge allegiance —
some of us will break that vow
the day we wake up
with dust in our mouths
and truth between our teeth.

They test us but never challenge.
We know answers, but never wisdom.

We boast achievements
without achieving,
never nearing
the person we were born to become.