Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Wealth

"Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants"--Epictetus


Child Plutus, Greek god of Wealth)


"To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace"--Confucius


"Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it makes some virtues impracticable, and others extremely difficult."--Samuel Johnson



"I would like to live as a poor man with lots of money."--Pablo Picasso


"You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be, I had a mother who read to me."--Strickland Gillian


                                     Midweek Motif ~ Wealth



Many people, the sensitive ones particularly, poets for example, have faith in this quote: If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t buy.

Yes it’s wonderful to have treasures that do not cost anything.



The word Wealth has a broad spectrum and varied meanings.

F.A.Walker specifies, "Wealth comprises all articles of value and nothing else", while The American heritage of Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition defines wealth as "the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money".

The subject of Wealth is today's topic: whatever wealth means to us.


Wealth

By Langston Hughes

From Christ to Ghandi
Appears this truth-St. Francis of AssisiProves it, too:Goodness becomes grandeurSurpassing might of kings.Halos of kindnessBrighter shineThan crowns of gold,And brighterThan rich diamondsSparkles The simple dewOf love



The Moment



By Margaret Atwood

The moment when, after many years
of hard work and a long voyage
you stand in the centre of your room,
house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,
knowing at last how you got there,
and say, I own this,

is the same moment when the trees unloose
their soft arms from around you,
the birds take back their language,
the cliffs fissure and collapse,
the air moves back from you like a wave
and you can't breathe.

No, they whisper. You own nothing.
You were a visitor, time after time
climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.
We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round. 



Weekend Glory

By Maya Angelou

Some clichty folks
don't know the facts,
posin' and preenin'
and puttin' on acts,
stretchin' their backs.

They move into condos
up over the ranks,
pawn their souls
to the local banks.

Buying big cars
they can't afford,
ridin' around town
actin' bored.

If they want to learn how to live life right
they ought to study me on Saturday night.
 
My job at the plant
ain't the biggest bet,
but I pay my bills
and stay out of debt.

I get my hair done
for my own self's sake,
so I don't have to pick
and I don't have to rake.

Take the church money out
and head cross town
to my friend girl's house
where we plan our round.

We meet our men and go to a joint
where the music is blue
and to the point.
 
Folks write about me.

They just can't see
how I work all week
at the factory.


Then get spruced up
and laugh and dance
And turn away from worry
with sassy glance.

 
They accuse me of livin'
from day to day,
but who are they kiddin'?
So are they.

 
My life ain't heaven
but it sure ain't hell.


I'm not on top
but I call it swell
if I'm able to work
and get paid right
and have the luck to be Black
on a Saturday night.

Blood Money

By Syl Cheney-Coker

Along the route of this river,
with a little luck, we shall chance upon
our brothers' fortune, hidden with that cold smile
reserved for discreet bankers unmindful of the hydra
growing fiery mornings from our discontent
Wealth was always fashionable, telluric,
not honor pristine and profound.


In blasphemous glee, they raise to God's lips
those cups filled with ethnic offerings
that saps the blood of all human good.


Having no other country to call my own
except for this one full of pine needles
on which we nail our children's lives,
I have put off examining this skull,
savage harvest, the swollen earth,
until that day when, all God's children,
we shall plant a eureka supported by a blood knot.


And remorse not being theirs to feel,
I offer an inventory of abuse by these men,
with this wretched earth on my palms,
so as to remind them of our stilted growth
the length of a cutlass, or if you prefer
the size of our burnt-out brotherhood.




Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community.

                                       (Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be ~ Conversation )




                 

24 comments:

  1. I have to admit that my wealth isn't in a bank account! Looking forward to reading what others have to say on the subject. Happy midweek to all!

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    Replies
    1. Mine isn't either.The things I love money cannot buy...except for maybe red toffee apples:)

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    2. Now I crave a red toffee apple.

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  2. Thank you for the midweek riches.. ps..is next weeks prompt invisible ;)

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    Replies
    1. I rather like the idea of "invisible" being the prompt!

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    2. I like it. I will "borrow" that idea for another time! Next week's prompt is CONVERSATION.

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  3. I think when asking a bunch of poets to write about wealth don;t expect too many poems about money ;-)
    Thanks for the prompt!

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  4. Thanks for a magnanimous prompt Sumana, Happy midweek to all at the pantry today

    much love...

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  5. I think my favorite of these is MAYA Angelou's. This is the most beautiful prompt ever!! How will I ever write a poem if I don't copy one of these? Plus I feel feverish and sour throaty this morning, so I am up late, and I know I promised to come around because Sumana is travelling with little internet. I guess my wealth is health and free time. Hmmmm. I'm going to write a little before I visit yours.

    I put in next week's prompt which is CONVERSATION.

    Have a wonderful and safe and healthy day, with lots of poetry to look forward to. I'm feeling wealthy right now.

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  6. Hey everyone,

    This is a fabulous prompt 💖 I am gonna wrap my mind around it and see what I can conjure up tomorrow. YAY 💖


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  7. Hi friends, A topic I have decided opinions about, LOL.........looking forward to reading everyone's.

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  8. Pardon me, if I keep a distance, from everyone, as my flu bug is still alive and kicking, in my chest and numerous body joints, as well. Bleeping bug had to arrive a month early too. As I have to make up two weeks of cancelled appointments. Oh joy.

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  9. Well,I didn't quite know what to do with this prompt, but eventually it became very, very clear! Heading around now to read others.

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    Replies
    1. You win the prize for the most immediate and politically relevent! Thank you.

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  10. Thanks for this post. The Moment by Margaret Atwood is one of my favourite poems. Nice to take part again after a long time

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    Replies
    1. So good to see you, Marja! I love The Moment, too, but it's a tie between all three of these. Sumana wrote a very rich prompt!

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  11. Thank you for this prompt, Sumana. I enjoyed reflecting on my wealth.

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    Replies
    1. I love how reading your poem helped me see my own wealth.

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  12. Thanks for this prompt. Fired up my poetic muse after a long long time.

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