I hear America taunting, the varied curses I hear.

It is the sound of the pain we inflict on each other.

The callow boys on the schoolbus, casually inflicting it for their amusement;

The heedless frat brothers exacting it as the price of their friendship.

The popular pretty girls imposing it by exclusion.

The bellowing bullying voices on the radio get paid for it.

The swaggering sons of millionaires, the self-appointed guardians of conformity,

Growing into their blue-suited manhood as the enforcers

Of the Iron Law of the market.

They sing the song of restructuring

With open mouths feeding on the helpless.