Deeply, Sincerely and Economically

We can concede today
Our predecessors' shame:
They're decades dead, so they
Can rest content with blame.

We'll barely spend a bean
In fiscal recompense:
Our nation's conscience clean
At minimal expense.

We've made the moral leap,
Said sorry for their crime;
For talk is always cheap
And gets more so with time.

Layton Doolittle