Listen to Marvin read Ecce Homo
Desire to acquire wealth?
Easy!
Watch, as others
(Sentenced to sweat and pain)
Gather it;
Then, take it from them.
(Trust me,
There are many ways,
Some simple, some arcane.)
Want to enjoy the woman
Of your dreams?
Somewhat more difficult,
Even dangerous
(But doable).
Systematically,
Abuse your rivals.
If they persist,
Dismember them.
Then discover
(This is essential!)
The imagined garb of love
That wraps her heart.
Don that robe;
Voilá! It’s done
(Though probably won’t last).
Lists of names don’t sing,
But, still, provide a frame:
Solomon, Aristotle,
Sidhartha, Jesus,
Stratford’s Bard,
Tolstoy, Freud, Jung,
All their insightful spawn,
Long ago,
Cut deep shafts,
Mined the veins
Of lust, power, wealth,
That animate humanity.
Not interested?
Fine!
Become a celibate,
A silent monk.
Howl within your heart
Futile prayers.
(Clearly, we cannot save ourselves.)
And deal with what you know:
The obscene rich,
Baleful poor,
Swift, slow, witty, lame,
Winners, losers
Sober, drunk—all the same.
First we die, then liquefy.
(12/3/09)