One little word:

A shift,

A change—

It stays the same.

Passionate verbiage

To an ambivalent crowd;

“They’re stealing our jobs”

Runs around the room

(As if the extra papers

Are any type of boon)
One little word:

A shift, a change—

Amend it or don’t;

It stays the same.

Big city teachers,

Waving their time;

“Don’t they teach?”

Is whispered along the sides.

As if their passion

Had outlived its time.
All in favor?

All opposed?

My voice silent.

My words lost.

My passion elsewhere. 

But I keep showing up,

Year after year,

To watch people change

One little word.

It just stays the same.