Frosted Birds

Once upon a time a Tiger roared

About which cereals were best in store

He snarled that Frosted Flakes

They were more than good,

said “they’rrrrre grrrrreat”

So we understood

That when it came time to feed

Sugared sugar would fit the need

‘Cause the free market profiteers

Had learned such a long time ago

That by tweaking our ears

And by playing to our fears

They’d keep us addicted to their say-so

They could take a day at random

And assign some grand meaning

Then compel a starving fandom

To go stampeding

To the wild market

To prove they “get it”

By buying as much trendy seasonal junk

As they can cram into their trunks

Last month it was as Halloween candy, and gory decorations

That we used to signal our fun and festive participation

But right now the market-driven meaning we’re supposed to fulfill

Is the oozing, gushy goodness of being suuuuper thankful

So all us good little pilgrims signaled our virtue

By buying ice crusted turkeys to display our gratitude

We all bought and cooked our frosted birds

Because the consumer tradition shouts louder than words

And the motherfucker raking in all the dough is thankful too

Because he’s got exponential wealth and no work to do

He knows he’ll never have to content his fill

As long as we are gleefully footing the bill

So every holiday the market is flooded

With junk-heart treats to keep Our System red blooded

Now next comes the GIFT GIVING season

And the corporate class wants to teach you a lesson

So each and every family

Must go out and buy happily

Or risk breaking our sacred, birthwritten oaths

Of giving our lives for infinite growth

Growth for our waistlines

And growth for our waste lines

And growth for our grocery lines

And most especially: growth for some rich bastard’s bottom line

And when it snows the marketeers smiles are obscene

Because a white Christmas for us means theirs will be very green

Authors note:

I’m just frustrated with capitalism and the way it buries all holidays and occasions in this obsessive and endless drive to consume.