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barbsdad2003
May 22, 2008 ⭐ View statistics (Premium feature)

despondent times


despondent times

[t]he business of the poet ...
is to show the sorriness
underlying the grandest
things, and the grandeur
underlying the sorriest things.

                                     ---Hardy

for to survive our lean,
exiguous economy,

I now must taut my belt,
then pass up five-star felt

to buy what's secondhand
and not much in demand,

and quit investing in
the local lottery.

(exiguous = straitened)
— barbsdad2003, May 22, 2008

About the Author

Country/Region: USA

More from this author

Critiques

Mark

Mark

18 years ago

most everybody around here

is doing it. Soon I will be paying to work am already wondering why I am at all (working) Having troubble buying my way into a restroom these days. Could go on but ... Provocotive I think this is. Thanks, Mark
J

Jacob

18 years ago

tightened economy

I love the lines

'I now must taut my belt, then pass up five-star felt'

great image I think it sums up the coming state of the economy ever tightening on us. Combined with the stark images and words reflecting the stark times makes it good.

Kailashana

Kailashana

18 years ago

True to earlier predictions:

True to earlier predictions: the gas is almost $4 here. We are led like cattle. Oil production in the States deliberately terminated The price of keeping the status quo is high. Much of the world was already paying considerably more than $4 for years. (As were the food prices, not to mention the third world countries.) And really, as long as we were not immediately affected...except for those in the know...or activists.. no one gave a damn. Really. And now it's hitting all of us except those who will always make money no matter what the *economy*... ~Anna
infinite_dwarf

infinite_dwarf

18 years ago

Good job, Chuck

Very fitting title. I was floored to see what food prices are. Normally, I could do 2 weeks shopping on $60 no problem, and get oodles of food. This last bill? $96 for the same amount of food! And it's not like I can save by buying store brand, $96 WAS the store brand! I hope things get better soon..... ~Jess ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ "Last night I lay in bed looking up at the stars in the sky and I thought to myself, where the hell is the ceiling??"
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DarkinAZ

18 years ago

It is possible

to live on popsicles and water. Not recomended though! I need a steak! Sincerely, Mark
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barbsdad2003

18 years ago

Buster duck ...

likes hunting post-rains for daytime night crawlers (otherwise known as fishing worms, angleworms, earthworms) and slithers them down whole and live. I think I'll soon join him, carnivore that he is, just to avoid being the victim of store-bought-food prices. (Although I must admit, myself being 99-plus percent vegetarian mouthcuffs me quite well when it comes to meat on- or off-table. (And lest you think me a veggie freak as a matter of principle alone (horror of horrors!)---it's not about principle only; for me it's most importantly to avoid animal protein, which, among many other foods, is particularly hard on a diabetic person (prompting high blood sugar and kidney damage), esp. when the condition's so long-standing.)) Thanx, guys/gals, Chuck PS: What a surprise! I didn't expect this piece to garner much attention. Really.
themoonman

themoonman

18 years ago

Hi Chuck...

loved your truth poem.. I like the way you write.. I read all the comments here and see I'm not by myself... on your last comment.. I am not a vegetarian but am well aware of the rising cost of feeding a family.. and isn't it getting scary buying food now with all the food scares.. thanks for posting this piece.. Richard

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