The Big “S”
Since I was a kid my Pop would say.
“Son,— do it the ‘American way’.”
I worked hard while going to school.
What else could an American do?
I saved my nickels and my dimes.
Always made it to school on time.
Off to college to learn a trade.
I had no time for getting laid.
Worked my fingers down to the bone.
With school & work, I was rarely home.
Finally, all my schooling was done.
No, I didn’t have time for a little fun.
Got a career job and worked like hell.
It was myself I had to sell.
Worked two jobs, sometimes three.
Invested the money, as you can see.
Kept my nose to the grindstone.
Worked lots of overtime. Never home.
Started buying houses & renting them out.
I needed more money. No time to pout.
After years of busting my balls.
I had reached my goal. Retirement calls.
I lived my life the ‘American way’.
I made a mint for the retirement day.
Then the government took it all.
The big “S” was Obama’s call.
Socialism is what it is called.
Kiss off the retirement. When you’re too old,
no longer productive, I’ve been told.
Then Socialism casts you aside.
There is no where you can hide.
Home will be a cardboard box.
Eating discarded food before it rots.
But, that’s o.k. I can say.
I did it the ‘American way’.————R. W. Johnson—–(2014)