California was a place people dreamt to be
The land of beauty, promise and palm trees.

Opportunity, lest elsewhere to be found
All in such a beautiful playground.

People packed their belongings and headed West
Searching for gold, fame and the rest.

Businesses flocked there, from the Bay to LA
Technopreneurs came and stayed.

“Come to California” the politicians said
Pay no attention to the wealth-gap spread.

Immigrants were welcomed from near and far
Yet California lost a US House star.

Why you may wonder is the golden state contracting?
The reasons for this, there are none lacking.

Taxes and housing are sky high
So the average person cannot buy.

Worse, homelessness is a way of life
Amidst the turmoil and the strife.

Rationing attests water’s short supply
Only wealth and privilege can defy.

The proverbial grass is no longer greener
With it went the California dreamin’ demeanor.

You see, Hollywood can no longer save the day
It too went astray; subsidies led them away.

Now people are packing and heading East
They hope to regain what the golden state fleeced.