I didn't write this, but just as true now as 30 years ago...
Who killed the Country?
"We," said the people-
"Standing idly by
While we watched it die.
We killed the Country."
Who clogged its lungs?
"I," said the factory-
"Spewing out my smoke
Till I heard it choke,
I clogged its lungs."
Who heard it gasp?
"I," said the hospital-
"Once it got my bill,
It grew deathly ill.
I heard it gasp."
Who struck it down?
"I," said the union-
"Like a blast of thunder,
Driving small firms under.
I struck it down."
Who warped it's brain?
"I," said the network-
"With my shows designed
For a pre-school mind.
I warped its brain."
Who pierced it's heart?
"I," said the bank-
"Ruthlessly I bled it
With my easy credit.
I pierced its heart."
Who held the knife?
"I," said the court-
"Setting muggers free
When they copped a plea.
I held the knife."
Who ignored its cry?
"I," said the congress-
"Once I got elected,
Problems I neglected.
I ignored its cry."
Who broke its bones?
"I," said the conglomerate-
"Crushing competition
Worsened its condition.
I broke its bones."
Who wrung its neck?
"I," said the slum-
"With the rope I knotted
While the cities rotted.
I wrung its neck."
Who carried it off?
"I," said the auto-maker-
"In my car I hauled it
Till the plant recalled it.
I carried it off."
Who watched it drown?
"I," said the ad agency-
"Hawking junk and trash
With a great big splash.
I watched it drown."
Who spread the news?
"I," said the post office-
"True a month had passed,
Still, for me that's fast.
I spread the news."
Who called the morgue?
"I," said the phone company-
"'Someone's died,' I said,
Then the line went dead.
I called the morgue."
Who killed the Country?
"We," said the people-
"Standing idly by
While we watched it die.
We killed the Country."
Who clogged its lungs?
"I," said the factory-
"Spewing out my smoke
Till I heard it choke,
I clogged its lungs."
Who heard it gasp?
"I," said the hospital-
"Once it got my bill,
It grew deathly ill.
I heard it gasp."
Who struck it down?
"I," said the union-
"Like a blast of thunder,
Driving small firms under.
I struck it down."
Who warped it's brain?
"I," said the network-
"With my shows designed
For a pre-school mind.
I warped its brain."
Who pierced it's heart?
"I," said the bank-
"Ruthlessly I bled it
With my easy credit.
I pierced its heart."
Who held the knife?
"I," said the court-
"Setting muggers free
When they copped a plea.
I held the knife."
Who ignored its cry?
"I," said the congress-
"Once I got elected,
Problems I neglected.
I ignored its cry."
Who broke its bones?
"I," said the conglomerate-
"Crushing competition
Worsened its condition.
I broke its bones."
Who wrung its neck?
"I," said the slum-
"With the rope I knotted
While the cities rotted.
I wrung its neck."
Who carried it off?
"I," said the auto-maker-
"In my car I hauled it
Till the plant recalled it.
I carried it off."
Who watched it drown?
"I," said the ad agency-
"Hawking junk and trash
With a great big splash.
I watched it drown."
Who spread the news?
"I," said the post office-
"True a month had passed,
Still, for me that's fast.
I spread the news."
Who called the morgue?
"I," said the phone company-
"'Someone's died,' I said,
Then the line went dead.
I called the morgue."
