Vacuous Acquisition Poem by Bill Grace

The theologian Jacque Ellul has stated
That the watch is the symbol of modern man.
After almost a life time of desire
I acquired this object's long sought face and name,
Discovered in its functioning the hollowness of my acquisition,
The pain of embracing advertising's big lie -
That a thing can make you happy.

I should have known better,
The subconcious being as powerful as it is,
That Mother Theresa's wisdom couldn't hold
My cynical friend from the world of advertising being correct
I didn't stand a chance.

The material world IS complicated
A good pair of sneakers athletically owned
Are hard to deny in impact where only
The most young and desperate make them idols of worship.

Beware: the child, the house, the car, the title, the woman's image;
Those long sought objects of desire
When something as simple as sneakers
May well be where your true satisfaction will lie.