Let's Do It. (Poetry). Carlyle N. Matthew

 "Let's Do It" (Poetry) - Carlyle Matthew. This poem, like others written by the author was submitted to Kola publishing several years ago and is currently being advertized under the Free Online Library...???

There're endless possibilities and potentials offered by a free market economy...among which is an offer to all to express freewill, to compete while earning a livelihood and the freedom to engage in activities of interest.

In this now increasingly integrated world, the ever increasing polarities between rich and poor individuals and economies, highlight the urgent need to consider other options.  

Corruption, greed and unfair trade practices are among ills plaguing a system that has not reflected on its true beauty since its early days of inception. The middle road or line, where gentle conduct and fair trade (including products and services for sales plus reasonable profits) were the rule, has long since been crossed...its vague appearance blurred in the distant horizon like myth…not to be naive, there probably was and always will likely be those who could and would walk the proverbial crooked.

Let's Do It, the poem, was written in 1998 after being inspired by an article the artist read in Time magazine that year. The article featured a corporation whose intention was to embark on a campaign to sell a billion shoes in the Third World market, as the North American market was fully saturated by its products being sold at that time...

The Third World was then seen as an emerging frontier for revitalized sales and greater profits. A Third World which at that time in many places was struggling to meet ends, to feed a poor majority, maintain its sanity in light of exploration and exploitation by the hands of mega corporations and many with little regard for good behaviour. A Third World today which still hopes to achieve those things once considered the norm in first world societies…much is yet to be said about this but in the meantime, a poem is offered in part as a catalyst for other ideas of consideration. 

Let's do it  ©1998 Carlyle N. Matthew          

What's the rush

            to sell a billion more shoes,       

            you take their money

            they take your woes,

            same people hungry

            can't eat rubber soles

            poor souls starving

            for an image like yours

"Don't do it!"

What's the need

            to horde all this wealth

            can't spend in this lifetime

            can't take to the next

            abusing all resources,

            over-producing much pain

            the sweat slaves lose

            the dollars you gain.

"Don't do it!"

What's this place

            we cling to now

            small pause for concern/

            or great cause for alarm

            caught in this cycle

            no strong will to break

            all out of control

            all survival's at stake.

"Don't do it!"              

What's there to do

            you throw your hands in the air.

            You say

            Earth will right wrongs

            no need to care.

            In one or two centuries,

            things be better by far

            survival of the fittest

            in this unholy war

"Don't do it!"

     

What's there to do....

            over five billion queries...

            no common purpose

            for all to agree

            Let's start talking

            from village to village

            we can't survive

            this continued pillage.

"Let's do it!"