For Those With Ears to Hear

I listened to a street sweeper

Sweeping up rags -

Another few years as

Initiate and he’ll

Be the master.

Last year, he lost his wife

To his boss, and crashed

Into a bridge. He couldn’t pay

The cost of insurance.

Now his savings go to

Keep his children alive.

But what kind of life

Could he buy them?

From 9 to 5 a day at

Minimum wage is no dream.

He wants to be the cream

Of the crop, plotting

Money making schemes -

Another few years on the street,

Keeping them clean and he’ll be

The Master, faster than you could

Say, “The American Dream!”

I listened close, and I felt his pain.

I’ve felt it before and

I’ll feel it again.

We’re told that with

Time and hard work -

As the prize,

We can save enough to create

A custom made paradise.

But I’ve never heard of a man

With anything more than

What he’d ever had.

And what I have now

Is more than I need.

The American Dream is

Built on American Greed.

I listened to a fisherman

Giving advice, saying “Friend -

Catch a bit more than you’ll need,

Sell the surplus to the first

Merchant that you see.

Save the money, invest it, and

In twenty years, you could be

A millionaire, providing care for

Your family.” Then to my surprise

The other man replied,

“Thank you friend, but I’m fine.

I take care enough now

Of myself and mine.

We don’t hunger or suffer,

And I get to spend time

With the ones that I love.

That’s my treasure so, friend

Thanks again for your pretended

Concerns, but I’m not blind.

My life’s not for sale.

I’m quite satisfied.” And never

Before had I heard that word slip

From anyone’s lips - “Satisfied.”

✍️ Poetry by Anthony Golden: lives in Urbana Illinois and works as a secretary in a clinic. He has been writing poetry for over 20 years and is working on several screenplays. Connect with his work @elwynaureate on all social media platforms!

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