the rich, the poor, and the ugly

existence is a sweatshop
where you work
your ass off for
minimal payoff

but the powers that be
will try to confuse you,
and lead you to believe
that hard work
will win you a seat
in the rich boys club-
as if they would ever allow
someone like us to
penetrate their ranks

no,
you work,
pay bills
and wind up with a few dollars
left over
for an overpriced hot dog

we are slowly being
priced out of normal living

we pay for an education that we'll
never use
at an interest rate so high
that our children will
have to take over the payments
when we're dead

we trim the fat
so we can afford a car
and an apartment
and a couple of trips
to the grocery store
every month
while someone else
gets rich using
our resources

and at the end of the day,
you might be lucky enough
to see your family for
a few hours before you
pass out
from exhaustion

don't fall for the illusion
of financial freedom

our quality of life is set up
to keep us poor,
to keep us in line, and
in order
so every success is
lined in failure

but you're not failing,
you're just getting by
and hoping you
won't die
before you're ready to retire
and become a greeter
at some discount store
where everything
is made in China