The Brothel Keepers

Gold cherry

By smokejack

Thu, 30 Apr 2015
  • 2988 reads
8 comments
 

An old man I used to work with

On a building site

Asked me if I was political

Asked if I was left or right

I looked him in the eye

And told him straight

I’m for all the workers

Abandoned to their fate

He seemed to like that response

Said I was wise for my years

I noticed the scars in his voice

Maybe he had met his fears

He asked me to define

What exploitation meant to me

I said it’s when a worker gets a leaf

And the bosses get the tree

He nodded in agreement

This prompted more from me

I said we provide our labour

But it never sets us free

40 years of the hardest graft

Just to fall down on our knees

And as for politicians

My contempt is unrestrained

Promising us the sun

Just before it rains

And the house of commons

Is not full of common folk

Just a hoard of whores

Laughing at democracy’s joke

Every one of them for sale

A price on every vote

Workers lives are sinking

To keep the rich afloat

The old man smiled

Nothing left to see

I am the old man

Looking back at me

 

©JMcN 2015

 

 

 

Certificate U
Poem
Talecatching

Comments

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

Brilliant, smokejack. Really said something to me.

Rich

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Very clever, very good.

Submitted by london_calling79 on

Very smooth rhymes. Nice riff on 'Arbeit macht frei' too.

 

Submitted by scratch on

This is or facebook and Twitter pick of the day!

Get a fantastic reading recommendation every day.

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

'When a worker gets a leaf and the bosses get the tree'.  One of the best ways I've ever heard it expressed. 

Submitted by Deliberately Ev... on

I like the analogy of the worker getting the leaf and the bosses get the tree. That's a very good description and very true. Great poem. 

The beat of your heart is the mellifluent rhythm to my soul.

Submitted by celticman on

I keep saying, they can't do that, but it's already gone. 

 

Submitted by smokejack on

Hi people

humbled by all your kind words it is always a surprise for me when people comment on what I write! I really appreciate you all taking time out to read and pass comment.

Thank you so much.