the emperor changes his clothes
and yet we stay the same
his robes have too many holes
not enough stitches
he can still see the ghettoes
the emperor changes his clothes
we gaze up in wonder
bright colors and soft silks
shine down with dazzling blindness
his walls trickle treasures for all
or so we are told
but how many kneading bread and digging graves
have ever changed their clothes?
and yet we stay the same
toiling in the sun
rays turning our backs to leather
working at Walmart with no benefits no living wage
pushing a raft made of hopes, dreams, and old plastic bottles
down a river that has no end
tortured by the cruiseliner with no plank
where everyone is helicoptered in
so that their feet never touch the dirt
the emperor squarely inside
his robes have too many holes
it cannot be helped
it was made by the people
with all their blood and toil
there are still gaps in the seams
and even though he changes his clothes
we are still there hungry and old
older than him and the one before
making his food and pouring his wine
never can quite see them like ghosts
out of the corner of his eye
things are moved
beds are done
and yet he always sees them out of the holes in the seams
not enough stitches
to block the light
not enough wishing to make them invisible
they are there in the seams and in the gaps
running around toiling away
they are always quiet until they say a word
which startles the emperor and makes him blush
he hates to ask them for anything
they should just know his every want
and sometimes he desires them for just one night
promises he makes never intending to keep
promises that slip through the gaps
because there are always too many holes
that let the light in and expose his fragile soul
and through these holes he can always see
beyond his gilded palace lies places
he never wishes to go but he cannot stop looking
because there are never enough stitches to block his view
he can always see the ghettoes
covered in soot belching out black smoke for his high-end beemer
he can still see the people as they come and go
asking for more than he will ever give
it makes him sick that they are so needy
why, he only asks that they serve the greater good
his palace, his planes, his comfort, and his gold
they are alive and working and should be grateful
he provides them water and money when they work for it
but what have they done for him lately
except maintain his gardens and cook his food
if they weren’t there, he thinks, I would just order in
let the grass grow wild
drive out to the country
and watch the ocean waves
nothing to worry about except when they come
asking for more than he is willing to give
he needs his 100% profits or else how will his children live?
go to public schools and eat fast food?
that is not for emperors
and so he changes his clothes
and yet we stay the same
we always leave holes
never enough stitches
so that he will always see the ghettoes.
