For all the unemployed fathers and mothers
who have worked hard all their lives
who worked two jobs and a side hustle
who paid their taxes
who send their kids to public schools
who use public parks
who believed in the American dream
For all the children
whose parents are putting their lives
on the line to pay rent
who don’t have technology or internet
to do their homework
who have no food in the house
who can’t go run and play
For all the old folks
who can’t afford groceries
who are herded into nursing homes
that put dividends before nursing
or languish forgotten at home
who have no money to cover deductibles
who have gone bankrupt paying medical bills
For all those who can’t isolate on yachts
fly to second homes on private jets
whose income isn’t derived from speculating
on a broken Ponzi scheme
the government bails out every few years
who doesn’t have a senator or judge in their hip pocket
or an offshore bank account, if this all falls apart
You are the bricks and mortar
the policemen on the beat, firemen, first responders
soldiers on deployment, sailors on ships
doctors, nurses and the custodians
who clean and disinfect for less than living wage
You are the teachers, bus drivers and crossing guards
who protect and educate our children
the migrant who picks the food on our tables
the lovers, givers and caretakers who sweat and bleed
who go to bed tired and cry themselves to sleep
who prop this damn thing up
Don’t let them take your humanity
your kindness and smile
this is our America
and it’s time we take it back
4-15-20
My husband's poetry 
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