a derelict dream
of financial prosperity
gleams in each
deceiving smile
he offers the
photographer

white teeth
dead eyes
the film cannot
capture its
soulless subject

attention
shoppers

swallow the cyanide pill
and get in line
disregard humanity
engage in
intellectual suicide

sheep
mewling for a
millionaire's autograph

a Saturday morning
cartoon villain
with a pair of
henchmen and
a Yankee's ball-cap
who'll never realize

poverty isn't an
asset one can monetize
capitalism addles
brain cells and sets
brother against brother

a snake-oil peddler
selling hope for
$26.00 bucks a book

but when the people
have nothing left
to eat they will devour
the rich instead and
we are running
out of bread