Greed and Envy

I can not remember how long ago
You told me your tale of greed
It's stuck in my mind for many a year
That we should take just what we need
But my kin are now wanting more and more
So your tale I tell them to heed

Now we are grown and worldly wise
Your tale has lost its point
My children confusing want with need
Your words I use help anoint
To free little minds from material thoughts
But so far it just disappoints

The moral of the tale you told me back then
Was to keep pure soul and mind
To fight the desire for other's things
Remain envy free and be kind
Consumers grow more demanding though
Industry tempts with new designs
Wants become needs losing concept of greed
Resulting in moral blurred lines

New products galore in everyday life
Making it hard to resist
We all want more and more, then still more
Without them we can't exist
Or so we think nowadays that's the case
Forgetting your tale's gist

But I want to change all of this for my kids
Teaching the value of self
Take just what we need for oneself
Not what we want for our gluttonous ways
Just what we need for good health
Rejecting sundries, respecting our Sundays
Mind and spirit is better than wealth

Your tale's still true but we'd rather queue
For pointless man made creations
We think we must have for fulfilment
Like the Xbox, Nintendo or new PlayStation
So I'll tell your tale, not let it go stale
Of excess and morals we derail
We can fix this consumer obsessed damnation
But I doubt we'll find that elusive elation

Copyright © Rob Carter | Year Posted 2014

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