The Cult of Self

Have you noticed how it's Me! Me! Me!
What happened to “Community”?
Sharing, lending out a hand?
I struggle hard to understand

Why kindness is “put out to grass”;
This egocentric world is harsh
Who gives their seat up on the tram?
Or helps a neighbour in a jam?

Few volunteer their time for free;
They ask, “but what's in it, for me?”
The world does not owe us a living
We've lost the age-old art of giving.

The “Haves” and “Have nots” gap is wide
The homeless have nowhere to hide
Social housing should comply
But demand outstrips supply.

Corruption often goes unchecked
White collar crime on Internet
The greedy feather their own nest
While honest souls fight for the rest.

There's not enough now to go around...
Injustice has a hollow sound
But we accept the Status Quo;
How is it we have sunk so low?

(c) Poet in the woods 2016