Manufacturing Pain Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

In the world today
We are all busy erecting the structure and algorithms of pain
It is not only in our collective consciousness
Where we are manufacturing the fibres and receptors of pain
Through our dissociation with our human nature
We have allowed ourselves to accumulate so much hatred
To the very things that make us human
We have abandoned our desire to help each other
We are holding tight to the ways of individualism and selfishness
Which are the pillars of pain
Our societies are slowly being dismantled by the agents of pain
Through their education, politics and economics of selfishness and greed
Our communities are disintegrating under the roof of painful decisions
That are meant to enrich a few and exploit the vulnerable
We have adopted an economic system that has nothing to do with our humanity
But much to do with maximizing the exploitation of the poor
And the accelerated destruction of our beautiful planet
We create pain when resources are gathered by a few
In their race to be billionaires and trillionaires
At the expense of the majority
We have created the scales of inequality beyond reason
We have planted the seeds of pain all over the landscapes of our human existence
At the individual levels, we are busy competing with each other
Pouring a billion gallons of negative energy on the streets of life
We are tearing each other apart by our desire to get ahead of each other
We are rupturing the fabric of our humanity with our poisonous material needs, wants and desires
Slowly inflating the fabric of our existence with the most toxic substance of pain
We are pouring a lot of expectations on ourselves
Totally destroying the substance of our being
We were created to hold peace, happiness and Love in our being
Now, we have created an ocean of turbulent currents of worldly desires
Fear, hopelessness and uncertainty are our sources of pain
This is the basis of spirituality
To undress ourselves of this web of pain
And reach deep into our hearts and address our true selves
In the language of the spirit - compassion, hope and Love
This is the spirit that will totally annihilate the trillion dollar industry of pain

©Kenneth Maswabi