Cheers in the Apocalypse

by Gary Corseri / October 4th, 2008

Collateral Debt Obligations galore
(and other arcane, bundled securities)
have ransacked my IRAs–and, what’s worse and what’s more,
appear to have scuttled my hopes for my sixties!

I’m not selling apples, quite yet, from my door,
nor standing in breadlines–but I do feel a draft
coming on strong from a future secure
only in the sense it will be still more daft.

How did it happen? Who slept at the rudder?
Did fighting two wars fine-hone our stupidity?
Blame Congress or Wall Street or someone Down Under.
We’re caught in this maelstrom, seeking lucidity.

The best we can hope for, the best we can muster
is a Mae West tossed at a sinking Titanic.
What next? What after? More greed and more bluster?
Whatever we do, we’d better not Panic!

Poet-playwright-journalist-fictionist-editor-professor, Dr. Gary Corseri has published work in Dissident Voice, The New York Times, Village Voice, CommonDreams and hundreds of other publications and websites worldwide. His dramas have been produced on PBS-Atlanta, and he has performed his work at the Carter Presidential Library. Gary can be reached at gary_corseri@comcast.net. Read other articles by Gary.

This article was posted on Saturday, October 4th, 2008 at 7:00am and is filed under Economy/Economics, Finance, Poetry.

2 comments on this article so far ...

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  1. john andrews said on October 6th, 2008 at 12:01am #

    More, the God of Plunder

    Oh government you’re broken, it’s time you took the blame,
    Red or blue or any hue we know you’re all the same,
    So pack your corrupt laws and illegal wars, just leave; don’t come back;
    Get out of town, go far away, we’ve given you the sack.

    Oh government you’re broken, it’s time for you to go,
    We’re tired of your terror trade and the fear you sew,
    We know it’s just a tyrant’s trick: this magician’s spell we’re under,
    To make us serve your god of gods: More the God of Plunder.

    Oh government you’re broken, it’s time we tried again,
    Yesterday we were almost free – you could have stayed on then,
    But peace was bad for business (or so your generals said),
    Permanent war is what they want, and you listened to them instead.

    Oh government, you’re broken, it’ time that we were free,
    Free to rule ourselves through Free Democracy,
    The citizen, well informed, is demanding something new,
    Government by the many, not government by the few.

    http://www.freedemocrats.co.uk

  2. Rowan McLachlan said on October 6th, 2008 at 2:07am #

    The Land of the Free
    Yo America, wassup? I hear things are going swell.
    Liberty’s chime is being drowned out by a trader’s bell.
    The phantom menace lurks behind a starry spangled banner.
    Your accountant had it etched within his diary planner.
    Huddled masses in abundance and, oh, say can’t you see.
    Bravery is a must for those of The Land of the Free.

    You are lead by a special type in that President Bush.
    His calibre best proven once war’s shove comes to push.
    Affording phone tapped torture yet no funding for health care.
    When big business comes a-calling, always cash to spare.
    Success in your country means who best can harness greed.
    The luxury of time as money in The Land of the Free.

    Black or white, boom or bust, the tipping of the scale.
    You’re well and truly screwed if housing’s bound to fail.
    Protesting foreign policy but so quick to crush dissent.
    The military industrial complex is how taxation is best spent.
    I hear you need a buck or two, maybe even three?
    Funny how everything is priced for The Land of the Free.

    Soon the world awaits the time that you elect Obama.
    A turban and a beard and this man could be Osama.
    Infinitely a better choice than voting for McCain.
    Antiquated, war hardened and simply more the same.
    All soon will be burdened by the lobby of Wall Street.
    These people should be gaoled by The Land of the Free.

    Its the whole edifice, not just the crumbling of a tower.
    Proverbially reminded how corruption’s absolute is power.
    As losses begin to mount I am sure to win this bet.
    You are going to struggle so behind and far in debt.
    Then arrange a balance transfer and on down the family tree.
    It will surely all amount to nought in The Land of the Free.