if you have ever seen a soldier returning home,
if you have ever seen a mother get her son back—
you have wondered who sent him away.
if you have ever seen someone destitute get a job,
if you have ever seen the accomplishment of earning lower wages—
you have wondered who took opportunity away.
if you have ever seen a family move out of a shelter,
if you have ever seen the father holding new keys—
you have wondered what happened to their home.

the breadth of damage that has been done,
these past years.
who has sentenced my generation
to poverty, to lack, to dependence?
our mothers and fathers can't quite grasp
what it feels like to be young and vigorous and bright
and completely powerless.
we tell stories like our great-grandparents:
we use economics and emotions interchangeably,
we spend hours poring over how we have made ends meet.
the depression, it is more than money.