Consumer Frame

Tonight I am performing poetry at a money-themed event in the City of Gold - Jozi! Here one of the poems>

(this poem i will be performing in a dress made of 2000 beerbottle-tops)

Consumer Frame

welcome, welcome to the

consumer frame

it multiplies to the millions

feeding straight from the conveyor belt

of the factory

to the conveyor belt of your tongue

rattle rattle rattle around your feet

in your mouth

in your stomach

in your eyes

in your ears

it has taken over the world

buy buy buy

and do not stop

anything but stop!

billboards scream in your sleep

use buy use buy use buy

consume churn

burn guzzle

over and over

rattle rattle rattle around your head

you get drunk

of too many options

row after row after row after row

you walk and turn

and walk and turn another corner

in this mad

consuming world

drunk drunk

drunk of too much

too much!

rattle rattle rattle in your stomach

what are we buying?

do YOU know what you are buying?

Yes, we know everything

we are enlightened

we are informed

the labels tell the honest truth with its

detailed and well-chosen scientific language

we feel safe and informed

they even throw in a few

soothing words:

discounts

free samples

buy and win

and two for the price of one

bigger and better

exclusive

instant

and express

genuine

original

odourless

and guaranteed

inspired

professional

great value

and be moved

because you’re worth it

and you are number one!

ah, i get happy and more assured

i read twice

just to make sure

yes,

they do indeed say:

our products are good

see for your yourself!

we even turned to whole foods 

whole grain

extra grain

reduced fat

2 percent fat

low fat

no fat

bio friendly

bio-degradable

eco-enhanced

extra vitamins and minerals

high GI and lots of anti-oxidants

organic, free range and handpicked

unmodified and no MSG

no cholestrol

no sugar

no dairy

no wheat

no meat

everything

and nothing

rattle rattle rattle in your mind

your conscience tells you,

wait, reconsider, don’t be a consumerist fool

but you don’t listen

you just buy buy buy

queues can be long

prices can go up

credit crunch might crush

inflation rates rocket

stock exchange quiver and tremble

shake and rumble

consume consume consume!

a raging fire into the long hours of the night

rattle rattle rattle with all its might

stop! stop! stop

we consume

guzzle energy we do not need

energy we only imagine

in colours of tasty and luxurious inebriation

drink drink drink

till you can’t anymore

till i can’t anymore

you think it is you frame your needs

ah! it is they, the invisible they, that frame your needs

by seductive slogans cajoling you

flattering your buying power

you think YOU have the power

oh no! it is they that  have the buying power

buying your soul

and throwing it to the dogs!