A Weekly Reflection: The Cost of Doing Business

We hustle and coerce
We contrive and spin
our webs of manipulation.
Saying all the while
“It’s just the cost of doing business”

Have to hit the benchmark
Productivity must increase
Sales are down and
Advertising is at full Blitz
The consumer buys in to the pitch-
Another sale made
After all,
“It’s just the cost of doing business.”

As the words reverberate
on Wall street’s stately bricks
The homeless stand and wait
For sandwiches out dated
Pastries un-bought and
Passerby’s tossed off coins

The only consumption for
The hungry is what
Society’s consumers thoughtlessly discard.
The mantra on tip of tongue,
it must be fresh and clean
Trendy and unused,
And, of course,
It absolutely must be cutting edge.

Things not truly needed
And quickly upgraded
While most of humanity
Just barely survives.

Sales are down and
Corporate America bemoans
Its imaginary crisis of poor state
And the echoes reverberate
On filthy subway walls
as the homeless take up the cry
“It’s just the cost of doing business!”

As we move into a New Year...

Let’s use up our natural resources, as we help others who have less
Let’s discard those things which continue to separate and divide us
Let’s be avid consumers of the gifts of love, friendship and community
Let’s buy only what we need from ethical and fair vendors
Let’s be hoarders of every opportunity to brighten someone’s day
And, as our bank accounts of life’s experience and interactions
Grows, matures and is ready to be cashed in
Let’s count our blessings earned and share the wealth with the world.

Written at a Starbucks while observing…. 12.29.2010