Answering to High Command
Answering to High Command …
This Poem could be considered a rant, a poem aimed at current issues of the day, or even entirely sarcastic satire. Whatever the case…there is much to be said about the state of things. Especially, when we are now all on the “Honor” system in charge of “ringing-up” our own stuff…for the sole purpose of saving the Great Markets of the World from having to have cashiers. Although, I still see their staff standing around watching our every move at the “Self” Check-Out. So…I’m wondering…just why are we checking our stuff out…anyways?
This is a little Poem about it all that I like to call: “Answering to High Command”. Hope that you find it Entertaining.
Satire: sat·ire/ˈsaˌtī(ə)r/: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Here goes:
Answering to High Command
Why do I feel like I am always answering to a Higher Authority…
Someone “High-up” making money hand over fist…while mine isn’t a priority.
Some Corporate group in a High Position…
That makes a buck off me with every transaction.
And leaves me checking out my own goods…at the end of my day…
As the Powers that be…are working Overtime…to grab up all our pay.
They place an Administrative fee…attached to each amount with some tax…
Then…the Powers that Be…act like we’re crazy…when we ask for a few facts.
They act like they are doing us a favor for providing us a simple service…
The Plain fact that they act so far above us…makes me a little nervous.
We are supposed to be in this… (in theory) …all together…
Not for you to make a buck on us…when things are under the weather.
Yet…you jack up prices and forge ahead at 90 miles an hour…
Leaves me to wonder…”by who’s authority” …and “by who’s power”.
You can come at me…and all those around…
And raise prices on everything we need…to live on…in this town.
Got to admit…I liked it better when prices were going down….
Now you look at me and explain that everything will eventually rebound.
Well… I’m no Economist…matter of fact…I didn’t really enjoy that particular class…
But hiccups in the Economy…should just be bumps in the Road…that shouldn’t last.
Not…Atomic Disasters…that leave us trying to scrounge up a dime…
And have to do it for every transaction…for every instance…All the Time.
But here I stand…in a long line at the Grocery Store…
After I’ve worked my 8 hours for the day…or more.
And wonder when everything will start to turn for all of us…waiting in line…
Who worked hard to get the Money we have…and have better uses for our time.
“Oh…I guess that doesn’t matter…in the scheme of things…Why Protest?
Just get back to work…Your life, Your family, Your Paycheck…can handle the duress.
Can’t you see that we made our decision…and decided what you should do…
It is time for you to pull your fair share…Can’t you see what all we’ve done for you.
Get Back in line and pay a little more…for very little benefit…
We’ll tell you when we permit you to stop working or when you can quit.
You’re not through Answering to High Command…yet…
We have to get a lot more mileage out of you…you can bet!”
It’s time for all of us to stop being so utterly compliant…
And make some of our own rules up…and quit being so reliant.
On what people who our deciding our fate for us…can say and do…
Those who could care less for what they do to us…or what their rules put us through.
Last Time I checked…way back when I was a kid…
Customers really mattered…or at least I thought that we did.
And we each Voted and had a little bit of say…in our Government…
With out being so stuck…and bound to…our current predicament.
But that’s just me…and perhaps I’m just being…way too naive…
As I lament over what things have come to…after what had already been achieved.
I stand here…waiting in line…along with everyone else…for my turn to check myself out…
As I see that we have totally forgotten…what providing a service to others…is all about.
~~~
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Thanks for reading!
Enough of that intro. It is really great to be writing here on: "The Creative Exiles". I am lining up some of my best writings for this website. Going to "Bring-it" with a variety of "Poetic-able" Topics. So just kick back and enjoy some of the Poetry I send out to you. It’s all for “Entertainment” purposes only…so all you will have to do is read and enjoy my writings.
And, I really hope you do!
Now, it is time for me to go and write in a "Poet-icized" manner like those long ago “Men of Old” Poets would’ve once long ago done it. They have primarily inspired me to write Poems in a manner that is “Manly” like how they use to write Poetry.
Please stay tuned for more of my Poetry works.
Best and Humble Regards, Steve Walters
(Or the Artist still known as: Manlypoetryman)
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- “Spellman” Street Days - October 23, 2023
I hear you! It has become increasingly hard to live by our own standards and rules. I have a real problem with the way grocery stores command us. I miss those days when the customer was treated courteously and store employees went out of their way to make sure we had all we needed. Great work, Steve.
For Sure, Phyllis…it has become increasingly hard to live by societies latest rules and standards. “Self” Check-out seems to be one of the most preposterous…of the many! Thanks for reading this one. I also, really miss the days of courteous Customer Service…or for that matter: Any Customer Service. But…Hey, the “Powers that Be” have to make a buck (at everyone else’s expense).
Always enjoy a good rant. The Colonel Klink addition completely did it for me.
Ha…Glad you had a good laugh…over a rant. Had to add Col. Klink…for sure. Him: Thinking he really ran the place. (Great 70’s TV re-runs!)
Nice one Steve. There are so many avenues I could go down in this one from prices going out of control, to government officials telling us what we should believe as opposed to what’s true. The self check out registers are an abomination,taking away a job for someone, I always try to go to the cashier. Nice work
Thank you, Paul. You’re right…It is crazy how much ridiculousness we are exposed to daily. Prices going up, Gas Stoves being outlawed, Electric Cars rushing to production, and so much more. (That’s just the start of a very long list!) Then, at the end of the day after listening to it all and trying to manage it all…You must Stand in Line and check yourself out…What the Heck!? Appreciate you reading this one.
Amen to that, Steve! I had a similar conversation the other day. The god of materialism is the strongest, the loudest and, sadly, the one whom we have difficulty in stopping. I like the sentiment of ‘providing a service to others’ – that should be the bottom line. I’m stunned at how the weekly shop escalates so rapidly and there’s nothing we can do about it, apart from not shop!
Great poem, great pace, a fine mix of humour and reality.
Ann
Thank you, Ann…Sorry it took a while to respond to your comment. Basically…I agree with your comment in our materialism being so strong that it is hard to stop. Appreciate you stopping by and reading this one.