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.