A Very Successful Life

You're born. They give you a number.
Congratulations. You're here.
Now hurry up and grow a bit,
There's work to do, my dear.

You have a child. How wonderful!
Now hand it to a stranger.
Go earn the money to pay them
For doing what you wanted.

You work to pay for somewhere
You barely get to stay.
You buy yourself some lovely things
To keep the doubt away.

A bigger car. A better phone.
A title on your door.
You're terribly important now.
Do tell us something more.

A little climb, a grand new title,
A chair a little higher.
How strange that moving up a step
Can make one feel superior.

We're tired, we're late, we're angry,
We fight for every crumb.
While those who own the bakery
Enjoy what we've become.

We let our differences divide,
And find someone to blame.
And while we're busy fighting,
Their fortunes grow the same.

We run to catch the banknotes,
We chase them till we're old.
We spend our lives collecting things
That someone else gets sold.

And when at last the race is done,
They gently close the curtain.
Another number on your wrist.
How nice to be remembered.

You spent your life to earn your bread,
To pay for walls and doors.
And when they laid you down to rest,
What life was ever yours?