Tag Archives: wealth

Humanity – A Tanka

Image Credit: flickr.com

Image Credit: flickr.com

Material wealth

Blinding to what surrounds you

Swallows compassion

If permitted to consume

And supplant humanity

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Question of Significance

You see me on the street, but you do not see me.

I am, but a speck of dust caught in the beam of a streetlight.

Insignificant in this grand and glorious scheme,

But not so insignificant to those who cherish me…as I cherish them.

Mother as I to my wife…wife as I to my daughter,

Father as I to my son…all cherish me, as I them.

Miniscule in this tidal pool of humanity as I may be

This robe I wear befits all that breathe this air,

Fed from the heartlands fertile soil,

Pleasure in grain-fed fowl or grass-fed cattle.

In you dear friends, I see a reflection of me in your life-worn faces;

Neither success nor poverty can separate us in our final hours.

You as I shall become equal to the grasses blade,

The acorn and maple leaf, meal worm and maggot

Shall all become our equals as we return to the earth whence we came.

There is no escape from this inescapable truth.

Though you persevere to nullify my worth, you can not;

For my worth lies not in your perceptions,

But in those of they who loved me.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Simpler Life – A Tanka

gandhi

A simpler life

Could any of us live it

Like that of Gandhi

Living in moderation

Among the less fortunate

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Let’s Hear It For The Gipper

Image Credit: whitehouse.gov

Image Credit: whitehouse.gov

An embarrassment lay before the trustees feet.

No courage, no diplomacy from the ivory seats.

~~

They bicker and fight at the masses expense,

Void of logic this makes absolutely no sense.

~~

Elected to do all the peoples good work,

To captain the ship with nary a perk.

~~

Not to be so, as their pockets belie,

They weakened the law and stole all the pie.

~~

Neither a sliver did they take nor merely a slice,

They keep going back many times more than twice.

~~

Still as cattle to the polls we can’t help but repeat,

As if we were held to the fire by our feet.

~~

When will the swarm awaken from their dream,

To see that this always has been part of the scheme.

~~

Divide up the nation into haves and have nots,

Feed those without means into the haves corporate plot.

~~

This countries demise may be its own wretched greed,

Blind or not caring for a citizenry in need.

~~

Many poor have been baited that less gives you more,

A theory disproved by many before.

~~

Even Greenspan did admit that “trickle down” was a farce,

The wealth it went up, but the trickle fell sparse.

~~

Thirty years on, on the brink of collapse,

Austerity it is as we watch prosperity lapse.

~~

But still the Gipper’s name is held up enshrined,

His legacy it ticks like a bomb out of time.

 ~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Temptation

I have taken hold of my senses and emotions,

Both temporal and natural, or so I thought.

~

One, however refuses to submit,

Fails to retreat in the face of iron will.

~

This one will continue to elude me

I fear, until my dying day.

~

My nemesis, temptation, smells weakness

Drawing out the impetuosity of my youth.

~

It taunts me with promises of wealth and joy,

Promises of gratification and self-aggrandizing,

Promises of love and power and strength.

~

Incorrigible are these in their sloth and betrayal;

Resistance proves futile in the face of this demon,

This evil that has been plaguing man since time began.

~

I fear I will continue in this mortal struggle

Until I breathe my last breath

Or conquer this most human of addictions,

Temptation.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Turning a Blind Eye – A Tanka

Image Credit: productiveflourishing.com

Image Credit: productiveflourishing.com

Turning a blind eye

Gives momentary relief

But changes nothing

Only actions gets results

Poverty kills if ignored

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Equality – A Haiku

Image Credit: washingtonpost.com

Image Credit: washingtonpost.com

To level the field

Rewrite the class equation

Now we are equal

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Love of Family

Consumed by treasure

Riches are not wealth alone

Like the love of gold

Love of family enriches

Living on after we’re gone

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

A Very Human Success

I’ve longed for success,

Yet in my lifetime,

Remains elusive,

Each dream rescinds the previous,

Resurrecting new heights to aspire,

Settling for mediocrity would be surrender,

This is the human way,

Should we not instead be yearning for elation,

Our sole reason for being,

Instead of monetary wealth,

Finding happiness in work, love, life,

Treasures that cannot be bought,

Fools believe fulfillment lies in smelted gold,

Gold alone does nothing but poison the soul,

Hollowing out and destroying our hearts,

Becoming a false and idolatrous god,

Blinding us to true and lasting joy,

Perhaps success lies in simple things,

Very human things,

Family,

Friends,

Self.

Love of one’s self must be realized,

For void of this one cannot offer love to another,

Maybe success is already in our grasp,

If we would just be thankful,

No…grateful,

For all that we already possess.

Maybe…

If we were to look inside ourselves,

We would find that we have always been…

Successful.

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

For the Kings Amusement

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~~~~

Drawing your broadsword,

The shrill sound of blade on scabbard,

Wind whistling as you ready for the plunge,

From your gilded perch, you call a throne,

Driving the saber home.

 ~~

Stripping away every last breath,

Leaving those that built your dominion,,

Clutching their throats, gasping for air,

All to adorn your coffers,

With the gold of fools.

 ~~

Corpses of the loyal lie scattered about,

Left to rot in the noonday sun,

You know more will come,

Looking to you for mercy and sustenance,

Knowing they too are expendable.

 ~~

Your minstrels praise you calling you benevolent Lord,

While you smile your hollow smile,

With yellowed teeth and putrid breath,

Showering them with accolades,

All the while condemning them to death.

 ~~

You find this such great sport,

A vicious game,

Played solely for your amusement,

Who loses makes no matter,

So long as its you that prospers.

 ~~

You look down upon your subjects,

With jeweled goblet in hand,

Whispering in contempt,

That they are not worthy of your grace,

Nor deserving of your clemency.

 ~~

So you carry on like a spoiled Prince,

Conniving those around you,

“Fear not!”, you proclaim this is all in jest,

While the executioner readies his block,

For the next ax to fall.