Cheated

All your life you've worked and slaved
Forgetting it won't matter from the grave
Been too busy to live life
Each passing day is toil and strife

From rise to setting sun each day
For just a little joy you pray
What happened to the life you dreamed
When all was just as it seemed

Worship the all mighty dollar
In a yoke called a collar
Gripped tightly in its grasp
Wearing societies mask

For fresh air we gasp and cry
Putrid is the air inside
Dead and rotting though alive
In work's coffin barely survive

One by one the office shuns
As they seek to see the sun
Breath fresh air see open sky
Reaching for the best kind of high

One by one each worker sees
More money is a disease
It eats our life and spreads like fire
When we seek to be hired

True it can start out as fun
But when all is said and done
Money makes us weak
For our lives it cheats

Having more is not the answer
Material things are like a cancer
Spreading out into our lives
Choking joy and blinding eyes

Forever feeling less then done
Never see the rising sun
Always when the check arrives
Eating joy from our lives

Instead of living day to day
We slowly fall in decay
When the last day finally comes
And all sounds cease to hum

What good was this life undone
No joy no hope no rising sun
Looking back this bed I lie
Kissing my world goodbye

If a chance I had again
Never more would I sin
And follow worldly words from the wise
Telling me to work and rise

Give me peaceful place to nest
Let me tell all the rest
Forget the god of material gain
Seek your life to sustain

Reviews

[David W Moore III]

In taking one step forward and concentrating so hard on just continuing forward, looking to reach that far off goal, we often miss each day. The cliche stop and smell the flowers has much validity. When is the last time we sat down and pondered the wondrous complexity of a flower; the construction, the colors, the smell. And that is but one tiny piece of what we pass each day in our striving to get more stuff.

[Marion Finnerty]

Yes,
Having more is not the answer
I was reminded of this not too long ago and have since made up my mind to simply enjoy life in its entirety. I love the rhyming - it was very well written.

[Art]

nice work...

[Anthony M Smith Jr]

Your words brought me to many memories and faces I had forgotten. Good poem and thanks!
Life and Light....
TT-TTO-NI-K
Elk

[Wolf]

very nice i enjoyed it very much

[Ian Faraway]

AMEN SISTA! PREACH TO THE ...... people that listen? audience I think you call them? anywho, lovely right, and for a second I read it so fast but so powerfully that I almost cried from emotion. No joke. Very nice!

[Dream Weaver]

Love the rhyming scheme with a
very comparative message as well
makes this a wonderful write...

[Cheryl J. Turner]

Poignant. We should all remember this lesson.

[Tony]

I suppose all of us, when we reach that day... those hours before we go, will reflect on our lives.
I certainly would not want to find myself guilty of bowing before a monetarymaterial god on a single day better suited for fishing with your kids.
Imagine what would happen if we were all so busy with our personal little worlds that we couldn't spare the time to raise our children and make sure our existence was in sync with our Planet.
You are good medicine, Norma.

[Michael X]

so profound in thought, i love he way your sincere heart shines through
in the piece Norma, because each thought is rendered a notion
of wisdom and reveals an experience to regard, you have an excellent
way with creating ambience, thanks for sharing your talent.

[A.Lee]

So so very true. I loved the first stanza. Very well written.