Materialism And The Cost Of Life Poem by Kenneth Maswabi

In the classroom of life
There were many equations
To calculate the cost of life
The price and the quality of life
Was pasted on the wall of materialism
The ability to be happy and the ability to find peace
All tied to the syllabus of materialism
Every child was taught to read and write
Starting with the alphabets
Not to create magical dreams
But to compose assays about life, work and turmoil
The composite sketch of materialism was always pasted at the back of our minds
Work hard and you will earn a better life was the mantra
Education is the key to success
Then came the numbers and more numbers
Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
All tools on the blackboard of materialism
To count money was not emphasized
Since most people will be paid peanuts anyway
It's only a few selected brainiacs
Destined for great things (wealth)
They will pass the exam
And go on to occupy the house of materialism
What kind of life is this?
That the majority should work for the minority
"Less than ten percent of the global population
Own eighty four percent of global wealth"
It's a scene out of a horror movie
That inequality should be imposed on people
And poverty be dished from the pot of materialism
Yet life is full of these horrible stories
Of people living under the poverty datum line
No social security nets
Are big enough to contain the unfolding spectre of suffering
The house of humanity is headed for disaster
Unless we re-visit the classroom of life
And re-define success, happiness and peace

©