Criminalising Poverty? Poem by M. A Heathcote

Why are we not criminalising poverty?
Is it not cruel to govern unfairly?
To help people out demographically
The whole world over; is that wrong? Scarcely.
Why, then, are we not criminalising poverty?
Why are these tax-avoidance vultures still circling?
Why are they not perching in their condominiums?
Are they so fat that they don't care about this living?
What is our commonality in low, minimally paid work?
Why are we not criminalising poverty?
In this twenty-first century
From bonds, we allow money to be printed out of thin air.
So, our elected governments can promise, likewise, thin air.
Why are we not criminalising poverty?
Why do all the newspapers focus on crass celebrities?
What is our commonality in low, minimally paid work?
That all might descend into poverty, feeling little more than dirt.