Gracious for Gold

                                                                               

Glinting gold

To be gratefu for that                     They say it’s a trap

                                                           Maybe it’s the time                  What if it isn’t

                                                       Won’t be such a feat                           What if it simply is livelihood

           Maybe then Mother Nature                                       It provides means to an end

                             Mountain top                                      An opportunity  to fend

                           For that windswept                                          Against a world, a cruel one           

             then you won’t long                                           With cold and hunger

                    Frost his bones                                                And needs and wants

Feels the cold biting wind                                               Poverty is akin to death

                 Who sleeps under the bridge                                             You can only live on happiness

                                                     Talk to the man                                               For so long

           Eats everyday                                           It won’t fill beliies

Sleeps in a warm bed                                    And it won’t pay bills

                                                 It is not everyone who                               Perhaps it is wrong

                                                Enjoy the life you deserve                   To feel satisfaction

                                                                 Despite the money            When you taste hard earned bread

                                                         To try be a better person      To want more

                                                                  Isn’t it more prudent      If so, I am culpable 




I decided to write this poem because of  how the book frequently mentions money and how Chris came from a wealthy family but decided he had had enough of the rich lifestyle, he burned all his money and donated what he had in his account and while it was a noble gesture it is ironic that he starved to death when $24,000 could have bought him so much. I think although it is great to think about beinng free and living off the land it is important to realize that what about those who don't have a choice? I wonder how bad they would feel about burning even one dollar, perhaps they would be burning a day's meal, with that burning a chance to survive. Although interesting this way of life doesn't seem to result in the best endings, even with the other examples John gave in the book. 
I like this style of poetry generally used by e e cummings. It shows how torn I felt when I considered what I thought was wasting money and a chance at a good livelihood. The lettering makes me think of the words trembling in the cold wind perhaps like Chris did and of holes which is almost what is body developed due to starvation. I would be grateful for oppurtunity and wealth everyday and would never be quite so cavalier about it.