Gold and dust

In the maze of concrete and glass,
where tall buildings reach the sky,
rivers of money flow,
but only to the chosen few.

Below, a shadowy city exists,
filled with hard work and grime,
where dreams are just whispers,
lost in the cracks of old streets.

The rich, wrapped in fine clothes,
dance to the tune of hidden power,
leaders of a silent orchestra,
playing a song of silence and control.

Their laughter, touched with champagne,
drowns out the cries from below,
where rough, tired hands,
reach for fleeting hopes.

Halls of influence, slick with promises,
echo with the steps of the elite,
their words, hidden daggers,
cutting through the truth.

In this theater of lies,
curtains of wealth hide
the machinery of greed,
oiled by the sweat of unseen millions.

From high-rise penthouses,
they look down on a sea of struggle,
where the hungry feast on illusions,
and the thirsty drink from wells of despair.

Marble palaces stand tall,
monuments to ambition,
while shanties lean on faith,
held up by pillars of resilience.

Markets buzz with chaos,
colors blend in the bazaar of life,
where the weight of a single coin
can tip the balance of existence.

Yet, the streets remember,
each cobblestone a witness,
to the dance of disparity,
the waltz of inequality.

Children of the dusk,
eyes wide with innocence,
navigate the alleys of shadows,
their dreams painted in hues of maybe.

In the rooms where fortunes are made,
decisions are inked in secrecy,
pacts that seal destinies,
unseen hands shaping the world.

But in the heart of the storm,
a murmur grows,
a rhythm of defiance,
beating against the pulse of oppression.

Voices rise, a chorus of unity,
challenging the gilded throne,
for in the contrast of gold and dust,
lies the spark of revolution.

The streets, arteries of rebellion,
pulse with the lifeblood of change,
as the fabric of corruption
begins to fray at the edges.

In the end,
from the ashes of greed,
a new dawn will rise,
where the scales of justice
find their balance,
and the city of gold
is built on a foundation
of humanity's unyielding spirit.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Blackburn Avatar
August 19, 2024 at 4:52 PM
Ooh, pretty poem. It all reminds me of golden haze and the sun, luxury. I like it
Pataki Avatar
August 25, 2024 at 4:17 AM
Thank you!
La France Avatar
July 15, 2024 at 1:02 PM
Ariana, wonderfully penned, excellent writing and congratulations on receiving the POEM OF THE DAY honor, Constance
Pataki Avatar
July 16, 2024 at 3:37 AM
I really tried my best and I'm so glad that I was chosen as potd. It was amazing! Thank you Constance.
Rodgers Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 8:38 AM
Dear Ariana, Congrats on POTD! You have artistically inked a powerful message about social inequality, the resilience of the human spirit, and the potential for change. Yes, we need to question the status quo and strive for a more just and balanced world. Congrats again! Blessings, My Dear Friend Daniel
Pataki Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 12:16 PM
We do need a change. Until them, we'll wait. Thank you Daniel!
Nicole Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Between cracks- even in tall buildings, there is justice. My heart breaks waiting sometimes, but, I know who's in control of it all. Just look above. Your thoughts are deep and powerful. Congratulations Ariana, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. Hugs, Brandy
Pataki Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 12:16 PM
I'm glad that you understood the whole meaning on my poem Brandy. Thank you for reading it. Take care of yourself.
Bowring Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 9:01 AM
Many congratulations Ariana with this wonderful, well deserved POTD. The contrasts are so vividly written with great metaphors. The imagery draws the reader in with exquisite detail. So glad your poem’s been honoured today as you’ve clearly put a lot into this terrific piece. Enjoy your celebratory day :)
Pataki Avatar
July 14, 2024 at 12:14 PM
Thank you Christina! I really tried my best in this poem, it wasn't an easy one. I'm so happy that my work was chosen as POTD.
Toney Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:12 AM
Excellent ink, Ariana. Congratulations on Poem of the Day!
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:39 AM
I really can't believe I'm the poem of the day haha! I'm so happy. Thank you Mark ;)
Kaufman Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 5:40 AM
Dear Arianna, What a rich poem you've penned and it so beautifully illustrates the polarity between the haves and the have nots. I really loved the reference to the "theatre of lies where curtains of wealth hide"and "the dance of disparity, waltz of inequality" Enjoy the recognition of this POTD which is so well done.
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:41 AM
I'm so delighted to be the potd, I am really grateful. Thank you Nancy, those were some tricky metaphorical phrases I chose to give dome emphasis to it! Have a lovely day.
Seeker Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 5:04 AM
From the beginning of time, the rich-poor divide has displayed itself on earth pitting man against man in the game of domination and control. Congratulations on POTD, Ariana, powerfully penned.
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Exactly, that's why I wrote this poem. Thank you for your comment, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I'm so honoured to be the POTD haha.
Trestrail Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 4:03 AM
All great empires eventually fall from their hubris and greed and corruption and abuse of power when they depart from the tenets of God. We are all eyewitnesses to the decline of Judeo-Christian civilisations across the globe. The revolution is here but not the one you speak of. But the good news is there’s an even greater revolution to come! Congrats on your POTD.
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:42 AM
You're so right Keith! Thanks for reading my poem!
M  Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 3:28 AM
A lovely poem Ariana.....Congratulations on POTD! Debx
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:43 AM
I'm so glad to be the POTD, thank you really much Deb!
Meadows Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 2:46 AM
Congratulations on your POTD. Well written.
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Thank you Daisy. I'm so thankful for being the POTD!
Culverhouse Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 1:58 AM
Congratulations on earning poem of the day for this well written poem
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:48 AM
Thank you Clive! I'm really happy to be the POTD!
Jones Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 1:50 AM
Wonderfully written! With words like “In this theater of lies, curtains of wealth hide the machinery of greed, oiled by the sweat of unseen millions.” And many more powerful phrases! Congratulations on a poignant potd!
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:45 AM
Your words mean a lot to me! Thank you Karen, I had to work really hard to come up with those combinations. Though at the end it was really worth it. Take care of yourself!
Leiser Avatar
July 12, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Your poetic pen sharply defines the disparities between the rich and the poor, Ari. Your descriptive imagery is brilliant as your words rise to a climactic ending. So well written and a fave for me! :)
Pataki Avatar
July 13, 2024 at 8:44 AM
Laura, thank you so much. I tried to express the sharp difference between them the best I could. I tried my best also. Thank you for your lovely words!
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