Rich Pickings

There’s folk worse off than us, by far 

Worse off, worse off than us, by far 

Pass another drink across the bar 

There’s people worse off, by far

There’s people in dire straits they say 

Dire straits they say, dire straits they say 

I’ll sail my yacht across the bay 

There’s folk in trouble they say

There’s people with no food to eat 

No food to eat, no food to eat 

There are no food banks down our street 

There’s people with no food to eat

There’s folk who can’t afford their rent 

Can’t pay their rent, can’t pay their rent 

This mansion’s my main residence 

There’s people who can’t pay rent

There’s kids who have no shoes to wear 

No shoes to wear, no shoes to wear 

My Rolex watch shows wear and tear 

There’s no shoes for their kids to wear

There’s poverty in the neighbourhood 

And poverty ain’t particularly good 

It’s not good press and it sours the mood 

There’s poor folk in the neighbourhood 

Yes, there’s poverty in the neighbourhood

Steve Wheeler © 24 January, 2022

Photo by Steve Wheeler

On top of the world

He had the world at his beck and call 

He had no problems or worries at all, 

with plenty of money and cash to spare

he lived like a goddamned billionaire

He drank like a fish and slept like a cat

with golden cushions wherever he sat

his stocks and shares were doing well

his other investments were giving it hell

his palatial mansion in the South of France

was host to many a song and dance

On the top of the world, he had no doubt

… and then his liver gave out

She was renowned for her glitz and glamour

wherever she went the press would clamour

Known as a high class debutante

seen in the very best restaurants

Her global travel and her movie deals

and a jet-set life gave her all the feels

A party girl drinking best champagne

living the high life again and again

She came from the humble working class

but soon accumulated a wealth of brass

She promised herself she would never go back 

… and then came the heart attack

Steve Wheeler © 28 January, 2021

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