there is another world

there is another world.

a world

of hard men

and women.

language and color

keeping

them in place.

lack of schooling.

the lower class. the beaten.

the ones

with calloused hands

and bent backs.

the miners,

the factory workers,

the construction workers.

the farmers.

the orange pickers.

you see them

with their brown bag

drinks,

sitting in the shade on

their rented stoops.

keeping their old cars running.

their children

fed and shoed.

they're too tired to fight.

too worn out

to do anything at night

but go home

to a cold beer,

a meal, the blue buzz 

of a tv screen, into

the arms of a husband

or wife.

then to bed before

the next sun rises again.