Poem:

I hear the same old sound

      of painful groaning;

The same old cry

       of death and moaning;

Sounds of laughter,

        sarcasm and scorn;

Expressions of regret,

          sad and forlorn;

I hear sweet words

            of unity and peace,

Of suffering unabated,

             affliction and disease;

Nations fighting

               genocidal wars,

Governments enacting

                unpleasant laws;

Politicians mouthing

                 empty words of love

which, otherwise,

                   are never spoken of;

I hear of better times

                     in all reality,

Abolishing injustice

                      and disparity;

Fanatics, shouting

                       savage cries,

Promises that don’t

                        materialize;

I hear the words of trust

                         words of doubt.

Oh, Wear Ear and ever-restless

                          mouth!