Hardened Hearts

What did
my generation
want
for their children?
All
the best schools
the right clothing
the new truck
the latest iPhone
the popular activities
the best
of everything
two incomes
could buy
and what
do
parents 
in Third World
countries
want
for their children?
Enough food to live
a few garments
to cover
their nakedness
the opportunity
for an education
and should
that opportunity
present itself
the girls
might be
kidnapped
for the pleasure
of sick bastards
the boys 
might forego
in order
to go to war
or
to work
for
a bite
of food
while people
fat
and satisfied
resent
their desires
question
their motives
afraid
they may
have to share
from the hoard
of junk
which crowds out
their family members
in homes
lovely
on the exterior
only
the rich
resent
the poor
for intruding
then go
to church
to worship
Jesus--
turned away
from lodging
born
in a barn
soon
to flee
His country
His earthly father
warned
in a dream
of murderous
intentions
for His life
Was
this little family
well received
in Egypt
or spurned
did they,
refugees,
hide
and come out
only
to work
on the fringe
doing jobs
the Egyptians
despised
a skilled carpenter
harvesting
olives
pomegranates
ever fearful
they'd be sent
back
to the place
where murder
was their destiny?
People crave
a taste
of what 
we gorge upon
and we 
hate them
for their hope
and
callously
wish them back
to their
waking nightmare
so as not
to disturb
the American
dream
they'll die
of lack
while
we die
of excess
these beggars 
named Lazarus
will be comforted
and the rich
who would not
share
will discover
they'd grown
too fat
to fit
through 
the eye
of the needle.