THE PRIDE IN POVERTY

There is pride in poverty
and these sentiments are old
and overgrown
with vines of wise council
improperly groomed
by the histrionics
of history

We try over and over
to deal with these creatures
we call brothers and sisters
wanting so deeply
to recapture
a natural sense
of togetherness
that really was never there...
But apostles of pleasure
can keep the peace
with primitives
at least until the party dies
When the hedonists
have hawked there bounty
and the only thing left
to devour
is the hand that feeds them.