Poetry – The machine – a poem about the world

Posted on by Opher

Stanzas and Stances cover

The machine

The world is run by people who do not care. They do not care about the misery they create. They do not care if their profits are based on exploitation, starvation and despair. They do not care if their methods leave instability, war and chaos. They simply do not care.

All they care about if the bottom line, how to earn more and maximize their profits.

It helps if there is chaos. It helps if there is inequality. There is a market to exploit. Desperate people take lower wages. The powerful require protection. There are weapons to be sold.

These people provide the funds for our politicians. They own our media. They lobby the government. Without their support the politicians are unelectable. They control the system.

They control the money markets that are the blood our economies. Without their investment we become bankrupt.

The control the price of commodities and manipulate the markets without regard to the misery that might be created.

The world is run by a machine of faceless, uncaring, selfish, greedy men who are simply doing business.

There is enough to go around.

There is a better way of organizing the world.

It does not have to be like this.

We could solve all the problems and make it fairer.

But we are driven by the desire to be one of them.

The lottery is not a victimless crime.

The machine

 

There is a machine that grinds away day and night

Sucking our essence into its claws,

Equipped with clamps, suckers and syringes

To suck the life out of our pores.

 

It is an engine that never stops

That runs on control

Manned by faceless, nameless men

With selfish, greedy roles.

 

We are fed into its guts

Into an all-consuming void

That leeches all our dreams

Leaving mindless androids.

 

Somnambulistic dreams and phony fun,

To distract us from the truth,

That we are being milked and then confused

To disguise the living truth.

 

A processing plant

Of computerized precision

That saps all intent

And robs decision.

 

The world is run for profit

Without regard to pain or price,

As the short term interests are met

Putting up the cost of rice.

 

We may die in war or starve

In slums amongst the sewage and disease

But somewhere in a villa

The cause relaxes, smiles and is at ease.

 

Opher 25.11.2015

36 thoughts on “Poetry – The machine – a poem about the world”

    1. Are Anna – you are intermittent. One long reply and one succinct. Thanks for that. I get angry. There is so much wrong. It is so easy to put it right and the bastards run everything.

      1. That’s me I never make sense. I like it when you get angry because it shows how passionate you are about things like this and I learn from you. Yes, the bastards run it all and it will never change. What did you think about “the little Red book” incident yesterday, did you see Jeremy Corbyn’s face – not a happy bunny – in fact most Labour MPs had their heads bent.He made a complete fool of himself gave the Tories what they wanted. More than one word this time, told you I am a “one off”.

      2. I did not see the incident. I just heard about it. It was silly. I think it was meant to be a joke but the media pounce on stuff like that. They still have a bit to learn don’t they. He played into Tory hands. I still like what Jeremy is saying. They’ll know him all they can, pressure him into mistakes and he’ll make blunders. We’ll see if he can hold on.

  2. I felt so sorry for Jeremy Corbyn he is an honest man trying to do his best, he never thought he would be in this position but he is – I wonder how others would cope. He is working so hard and he should have the others behind him but there are a lot of snakes there waiting to bite. Lets hope the Christmas break will help and he will come back tougher and stand up to not just the Tories but some in his own party, don’t trust Watson.

    1. I think he’s got integrity and that is what is missing from the others – they’ll sell their grandmother for a vote and sell the country to hold on to power. They are two-faced, lying hypocrits. He says what he thinks and I like most of it. You know where you stand. Not like the Bullingdon boys.

      2. I think he’s got integrity and that is what is missing from the others – they’ll sell their grandmother for a vote and sell the country to hold on to power. They are two-faced, lying hypocrits. He says what he thinks and I like most of it. You know where you stand. Not like the Bullingdon boys.

    1. It’s lunch-time. Off for a bite to eat. Might make me sharper for the afternoon. This evening I perform. Have to be sharp then to avoid the missiles!

      1. Why do you always have a “down” on yourself (I can talk), you have been nearly everywhere, done so much have a lust for life, you are so intelligent but you have doubts that people like what you write, it is honest and funny and I love the books I have read and am reading.

      2. well firstly because nobody is exactly falling over themselves to publish or buy tmy books and secondly every time i read something i’ve written i find a huge number of faults. it is depressing.

  6. I have seen very few faults, what are you worried about that for, well known people who write make mistakes and the Publishers do not pick them up, trouble is they do have not professional proof readers these days.If I knew any Publishers I would bloody force them to publish your books they have no idea what they are missing. Do not lose hope, please.

    1. No Anna. I’m only playing. BT are driving me nuts. My internet keeps dropping out altogether. I’ve been all afternoon on the phone with engineers trying to sort it out.

    1. They wheel me out every now and then when they want an outspoken, controversial quote about something in education.

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