Poem: Reform

Reform

They speak of it,
at first, maybe
it seems possible,
a consideration.
It will be taken up,
they might say,
but they keep talking,
talking of the problem,
of respect and timing,
or they begin as if 
they know
it cannot be
or will not work
or is not right,
or offer a defense
of not acting, not 
doing what is needed,
speak of allowing it
to be as it has been.
They shift the blame,
they cast aspersions,
claim to be defenders,
claim nothing will work,
nothing can be done
that will make it better.
They will say 
what they have said before,
and nothing will change, again.
It will remain as it has been,
just as it has each time before,
no one moves a hand
or walks forward.
Nothing is done.

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