Socialist Sonnet No. 109

Idling

 

A minister deplores the idle poor,

The government being moral guardians

Of the feckless many, whose only plans

Are pursuing leisure, pleasure and ignore

Any economic imperative

That invests capital with the powers

To rob them daily of valuable hours,

Until barely enough remain to live.

But don’t think these idlers idle. Once freed

From toil to cooperate with neighbours,

They then can pool their collective labours

And ensure everyone gets what they need.

It’s surely now apparent just how cash

Has become the modern slave owner’s lash.

 

D. A.