The pavement drinks the sweat of broken spines,
while marble floors are buffed with silver oil.
A child’s cough rattles in a basement flat;
upstairs, the penthouse counts its idle spoil.
while marble floors are buffed with silver oil.
A child’s cough rattles in a basement flat;
upstairs, the penthouse counts its idle spoil.
The system is a rusted, grinding gears
that feeds on calloused hands and hungry eyes.
It prints the currency of deep despair
and sells the working man a pack of lies.
that feeds on calloused hands and hungry eyes.
It prints the currency of deep despair
and sells the working man a pack of lies.
They draft the laws to lock the cellar door,
ensuring that the bottom stays below.
A gold-rimmed glass is filled with vintage wine;
A plastic cup is filled with lead and woe.
ensuring that the bottom stays below.
A gold-rimmed glass is filled with vintage wine;
A plastic cup is filled with lead and woe.
The distance isn't measured out in miles,
but by the thickness of a wallet's fold.
A life is bartered for a copper coin;
A soul is traded for a bar of gold.
but by the thickness of a wallet's fold.
A life is bartered for a copper coin;
A soul is traded for a bar of gold.
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Author:
Drew Lewis (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: June 28th, 2026 16:41
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 2
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett
Offline)
Comments1
This poem tells of the selling of values, people and souls for gain. It is graphic and vivid in its imagery using allegory and metaphor very well. It has some great lines that make their point so nicely. "They draft the laws to lock the cellar door, ensuring that the bottom stays below." a valid social comment on a cast system in capitalism. "A plastic cup is filled with lead and woe." whether lead is bullets from violence or in the water of the poor makes little difference here and may be taken both ways for even greater effect. Very clever. "The distance isn't measured out in miles, but by the thickness of a wallet's fold." Nicely said. A well written poem in good rhyme and a fave
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