The chief curse of man
by cricketjeff on August 30, 2008. © Jeff Green, All rights reserved
Although the love of money is deplored
And simple greed can cause tremendous strain
The worst of crimes are not about reward
Few wars are fought for monetary gain
The evils that the worst of men have stored
Are often aimed at causing simple pain
They claim these are the actions of the heart
Such idealists will tear the world apart
Religions and philosophies are fine
If those who followed each would understand
The words of men will often undermine
The benefits they think that they have planned
If you believe that truth’s as you define
The world will surely suffer at your hand
No man can know the best for all the World
Idealists should keep their banners furled
Do not believe all that you’re taught in school
Responsibility still rests with you
For Communist or Nazi party rule
Good men have thrown away the truths they knew
They thought it best to latch on to a fool
The same applies to most religions too
Before you stand to fight for all that’s “right”
Remember to keep sanity in sight
Author notes
3 Stanza Ottava Rima inspired by
“It is not materialism that is the chief curse of the world, as pastors teach,
but idealism. Men get into trouble by taking their visions and hallucinations
too seriously.”
H. L. Mencken
English