There’s Enough Here for Everyone

by Chandra Martin

No one should have to lose
just so you can win.

We’ve lost enough already.

No one should be robbed
so you can have financial gain.
This nation was already built on theft.

Native Americans suffered stolen land.
Black Americans descend from stolen people,
robbed of their culture and language.
Japanese Americans suffered stolen freedom
here in the United States.
Chinese immigrants suffered stolen dignity and respect.

History is repeating itself.

No one should go hungry
while you eat your fill.

But through it all, we rise to shine brighter than the morning sun

No one should die
while you live so wonderfully.

No one should be denied an education
while you have access to the best.

No one should be homeless
while you rest your head on plush pillows.

While you’re safe and secure,
we’re constantly looking over our shoulders,
wondering when the next threat
will appear before us.

Our service members should not have to fight
in a war they don’t believe in.
They return broken and wounded,
and no one seems to care
why they bleed.

This nation will never be great
until all of us are doing great.

Why do you believe
you’re the only one
who deserves to have food on your plate?

There’s enough here for everyone.

No one is trying to take anything from you.
We just want our fair share.

No one should have to work 40-plus hours a week,
only to find that after the government takes its cut,
we still can’t make ends meet.

Stop living your lives
and making decisions
as though you’re the only ones on this planet.

Six degrees of separation
is a lot closer than you think.

What are you going to do
when the universe decides
to boomerang all your selfish acts
back to you?