Ever since Judas betrayed the Christ,
someone’s been yelling,
“Watch me stab the neighbor in the back.”
They bow down at the altar of money,
grin like vermin chasing gold.
Every friend has a price.
Deals sealed with handshakes,
sweat flows, fangs bite.
Someone always bleeds
behind the scenes.
They tread on our bones
for applause and nods.
To get ahead,
but for what?
We ain't stayin.
Gold drips from their grimy fingers.
Shame they can't wash off.
Just ask Lady Macbeth.
Transactions of degradation.
On to the next sucker.
Boots sticky with blood.
Every hand grabs,
every eye covets.
They lie flat, lie tall,
lie anywhere
to get the prize.
Nothing holy.
Nothing’s taken.
Everything descends
down the ladder
into the abyss.
They shuffle papers and wink,
kiss asses,
laugh over the ashes of trust.
Call it ambition,
call it need.
No one blinks,
no one winces.
Do you smell the rust?
The moral bankruptcy
is brutal if you’re invested.
Every hand a money clip,
every word a check mark.
They smile like it’s currency.
And the silent rooms,
where friendship and laughter dwell,
collect the bodies of trust.
-
Author:
Thomas W Case (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: May 3rd, 2026 07:58
- Comment from author about the poem: New long-form poetry reading on YouTube—featuring work from Aluminum Cowboys and a sneak peek from Searching for Nod.\r\n\r\nWatch:\r\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNzeVyF51Og\r\n\r\nBooks on Amazon:\r\nhttps://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=xsU45&content
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 29
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Paul Bell, Tristan Robert Lange, Teddy.15
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Comments8
Well written. Your poem serves as a warning and critique of a culture that prioritizes wealth over integrity,
Thank you.
Yes, buy a couple of million shares in oil, then start a war, watch your money grow.
The people of the world are being taking for mugs, and the sad part is, the powers at be know it.
Exactly. Thanks, my friend.
Such is man my friend and in it lies his doom. He will cut his neighbor's throat, cheat on his mate and spit on his parents.
You got it. Thanks, my friend.
Most welcome Thomas
Got to find hope somewhere, Thomas....now where is it? Damn, I seem to have gone blind... just have to feel around until I touch something solid...
Exactly. Thanks, Dave.
Thomas, this carries a relentless honesty… exposing betrayal, greed, and the cost of it all without softening anything. There’s anger, but also clarity in it. It stays with you. Strong piece, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Thank you.
Wow powerful and filled with imagery, I cannot help but think of America today. 🌹
Thank you, sweet Teddy.
An Age Old story I'm afraid. And not likely to change.
Good Write.
Thank you.
moral bankruptcy has never been depicted so honestly - a beautiful expose on the grimy reality...
Thank you my friend.
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