Recession

Modern capitalism needs men who cooperate smoothly and in large numbers; who want to consume more and more; and whose tastes are standardized and can be easily influenced and anticipated ... what is the outcome? Modern man is alienated from himself, from his fellow man and from nature.

Erich Fromm

Wisdom for the Soul

Autumn’s recession

Multitudes of leaves today are drifting overhead,

as atmospheric pressure rises in its wicked worldlike way

En masse they hover, swirling, helpless, carried on the wind

and too soon reach the highway, so alive with all its busyness.

The strong survive, the others chance to fate

and play a game of Russian Roulette as they cross

as the slowest  in their weaker currency of air

soon trip, with many bound to fall.

These scrape across the tarmac noisily and become too quickly crushed,

while the others, high flyers in the land of leafdom,

still soar with ease and they can only laugh,

as they coolly reach the other side

to land upon a listening bank of green that wears a welcome smile.

Secure, untouchable, as they always were

when fixed so high upon the branches in their tree;

those lucky leaves whose hue is painted  precious gold,

will live entirely free of penalty or pain of death

or such an  undeserv`ed poverty.

Cait O’Connor