Stuck in hollow routine
everyday habits
where daily we careen
hop like do rabbits?
Thus we stagger overtired
in culture implicit
not unwittingly aspired
Hoping to elicit:
A conclusive escape unafraid
from consumerism’s shtick masquerade
Hey, Thucydides, that was then. This is now and how!
“Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most.”
-Thucydides (c.460 B.C.– c.400 B.C.)
If restraint implies ‘voluntary’ restraint would we these days recognize something so over the top quaint?
Yes, in Antiquity
but regarded now
as mere obliquity
Here is why & how:
Today’s absence of restraint
sustains mindless shopping
above all for more war paint
unjust wars not stopping
Fans fiery fire
absent qualms
by our Empire
dropping bombs
While voices of restraint
raised rarely, echo faint
Best be aware that li
Beware of ads offering ‘free’ gifts
by busty ‘babes’ with rosy cheeks
Beware too that those composing gifs
might be high-tech chattering geeks
Beware of the neighbor’s dog
as well as of all rifts
Beware of much too strong grog
and those drunks draining fifths
Best always to stay aware
that Human Life doesn’t play fair
Palate & profit ahead of people & planet
In this verse speaks a ‘victim’ of the suggestion, found outrageous, that she turn vegan to mitigate and delay the impending climate collapse:
Why must I be wary?
Who says I can’t eat
either eggs or dairy
chicken, pork or meat?
My palate shall come first
must taste delicious
Though my ‘for profit’ thirst
as well ambitious!
Never mind what I like eating
won’t the planet keep rotating?
Hyping cyber connection
When in 2016 my spouse tried to get me to adopt a smart phone I told her that I already had a pacifier as a baby, that I hoped to live out my last year(s) head held high – not with my nose stuck on a tiny screen, and it’s ring being my command.
Turning me a smartphone
run-of-the-mill clone
good grief, I moan & groan
What’s next? A small drone?
Hyping of cyber connection
how’s that an act of affection?
Roads avaricious lead to dead-ends pernicious
Might those unknown ‘truly humble’
be the sole ‘adults’ these days
those who rarely are heard grumble
those few who’d rather shun praise?
Shouldn’t those ‘faking being modest’
be deserving of our wrath?
These days invasive as sawdust
how they’re clogging up our path!
Who is propelled by humility
when comes to piling worldly excess?
Tailwinds push truculently
on many roads avaricious
wide, they gleam luminously
leading to dead-ends pernicious
Seems mere flash of futility
when pushing too hard for success?
+)
-‘adult’ = an emotionally, mentally & socially mature person – seen many recently?
Slapping high-fives while our Species nosedives
BACK THEN those who resisted & bravely persisted:
For a ‘just vision’
they lost their jobs
landed in prison
beaten by mobs
Cruelly confined
gruesomely grilled
majorly maligned
some even killed
Still courageous & strong
stood against what was wrong
*
WHILE NOW in these splendid times:
Such actions quaint
would involve restraint
might make us faint
so favor complaint
Habitat we extirpate
while keep slapping high-five
from duties we abdicate
while Species takes nosedive!
What?! Slowing global warming
through ‘personal’ action?
Few, despite plenty warning
seem adjust one fraction
In these thrilling times ‘morality’
suffers high rate of mortality
Ignominy of the consumer economy
Why don’t we even begin to care
when stumbling around on rubble?
We cannot of action be aware
while mired in fantasy’s bubble!
Why is it our unstoppable quest
while the planet keeps on fading
to soil our irreplaceable nest
and to still keep right on raiding?
Such is the ubiquitous ignominy
of the hapless consumer economy
I’m indulging Life with cupboards, debt & midriff bulging
Rushing is so much fresh fun
as ‘my sweet life’ has just started
must have a great rat race run
for which I’ll fight lionhearted
Life ought not ask anything from me
exect to enjoy indulging!
Just love staying busy, can’t you see
cupboards, debt & midriff bulging
Out of breath, speech smattered
need to somehow find more time!
Heart & mind all scattered
got no time to waste on rhyme!
Thank you for not ‘reporting’
This verse is about those among of us who routinely ‘report’, i.e. who monopolize what otherwise might pass for participatory conversation, and instead provide a mindless stream of unsolicited, tedious accounts of personal trivia. ‘They’ are those who indulge themselves in such fashion. ‘We’ refers to those among us who pretend to listen rather than speaking up.
Inane silliness they propound
oblivious of how they do bore
running colloquy’s ship aground
prop churning in air, bow stuck ashore
Brusquely do they choose to fail
noticing some snoring
while they sweat every detail
Hot air balloons soaring
We’re dragged through verbiage’s marsh
put-upon minds splashed numb
In knee deep slog, soaked & harsh
our hapless hearts splotched glum
While silently we’re imploring:
“You blabbering, boorish bum
please plug that oozing outpouring
grant us mercy! Try out mum!”
+)
prop = propeller; here: image of a grounded ship