Tuesday, October 24, 2017

THE RIGHT TO WORK—POEM TWO (weekly poem)

THE RIGHT TO WORK—POEM TWO

The 'right' to work? Where is this 'right',
And what's it really for?
This 'right' in a society,
That's 'Red in tooth and claw'. (1)

The 'right' of workers everywhere,
To suck-up to the boss;
Who sees them as a dollar sign,
Or dumps them as a loss.

The 'right' of all employees to,
Keep silent and be seen;
As an appendage to some shafts,
Or cogs in a machine.

The 'right', oh yes that special 'right',
Of 'ordinary' folk;
Who work and thus create all wealth,
To be seen as a joke.

The 'right' like businessmen to act,
Like an entrepreneur;
And better one's life as they do,
Without the 'greedy' slur.

And thus the 'right' to go on strike,
To better their month's pay;
And be decried by the same boss,
Who 'earns' more in a day.

(1) 'In Memoriam A.H.H.'--Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

© Richard Layton

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