Are we all but slaves

Hamsters on a wheel

Paid to run on a treadmill

That barely stands still?

Pounding away

Day in and day out

With our noses to the grindstone

Our spirits almost snuffed out?

Striving hard to keep

A roof over our heads

And provide for ourselves

Lest the streets become our beds?

The cost of living rises

Yet wages still stagnate

The ever moving goalposts

That stretch us til we break

Capitalism thrives

It’s machinery fuelled by greed

It chews you up and spits you out

Takes no prisoners, no reprieve

Perhaps it’s time to surrender

To bow out of the game

You gave it your best shot

But your sanity’s at stake

You want to live a little

Before you grow too old

You want to hold something back

Not sell your very soul

You’ve given it your all

But that was not enough

Time to cut your losses

It shouldn’t be this tough

You were born free

Not wearing a ball and chain

We all should work to live

Not live to work – it’s insane!

Not mortgage ourselves to the hilt

And commit to it for life

We shouldn’t have to pay

For basic, human rights

And don’t get me started on rent

Oh, pity the poor tenant

Held to ransom by landlords

Who prey on the dire situation

We’ll all be residing in boxes

Nay, coffins at this rate

Prices need to be capped

Before it gets too late

Before they bring back the workhouse

And incarcerate us there

For it seems that’s where we’re heading

With social housing scarce

I just want to be happy

To have enough to eat

I really can’t be arsed

With all this shit to compete

Just want to be warm and dry

Comfy in my bed

Just want a place to call home

Somewhere to rest my head

And the time to create and dream

To express myself and write

In a sanctuary of my own

Where I know I’m safe at night

With someone to snuggle up to

And share the ‘joys’ of this world

Just simple pleasures really

That shouldn’t cost the earth.