One of a Million Reasons to Emigrate - 7.25.01

If
the rest of the world
could build a wall around
us and let
us choke to death
on our own filth,
would we realize
the damage
we have done?
Or, would we write it off
as a bad case of smoker's cough,
as our lungs filled with carcinogens,
five types of sludge, liquid metal burns,
your mom and dad.
You burn it all and make it disappear,
but don't you realize
that the legacy you leave will not burn.
The children that you claim to love won't
love you for things that they can buy.
They'll think of what you left behind.