The Shame of Needing Help

They told us to stand alone, that freedom, it never needed anyone.

That asking for help was weakness, and weakness was death.

They said, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps even if you ain't got shoes."

Said, "Work hard and you'll make it," while they rewrote the rules.

They said, "Be a man, don't whine, don't beg," so we died

quiet and dead. Thought pride could pay the rent, but landlords never honor

regret. And now the roads are cracked, the water's brown. The schools are

broke and we all drown in silence 'cause we learned not to ask