Dialogue Poem by Morgan Michaels

MM opening bills. Diotima lolls nearby. She smokes.

MM Diotima-

D What?

MM Why do prices always go up?

D (shrugs) Some people say it's natural.

MM Do you think that's true?

D Yes and no. The real reason, of course, is....

MM What? I'm listening-

D - gravity. They go up because of gravity. It's a law.

(silence)

MM Really? Diotima, I thought gravity made things go down.
If what you say's true, shouldn't things get cheaper?

D Quelle naivete! You're forgetting one thing.
It's a topsy-turvy world. Gravity used to make things go down.
Now it makes things go up. Prices included.

MM Hm. Then it has nothing to do with greed?

D Nope.

MM Or need to maintain a profit margin?

D Unh-unh.

MM Or the singling out of necessities to profit by?
Like food, a roof, medication, transportation?

D Absolutely not!

MM Or high overhead, getting passed on to the consumer?

D Where do you get these ideas? That's just silly.

(silence; Diotima smokes)

MM Diotima-

D What?

MM Where do babies come from?

D What a question. Test tubes, of course.

MM Oh.

D Why?

MM Just asking.