The dialectic of surfeit and need
infuses us all with a sense of dread.
It pinches the social impulse with greed
and seems to undermine our every deed,
from buying stocks to lining up for bread.
The dialectic of surfeit and need
is a struggle from which we would be freed
if to all the world it hadn’t yet spread,
yoking humanity to abject greed
and replicating itself in our seed
to outlive us when our last word is said.
The dialectic of surfeit and need
surpasses good will with inhuman speed.
In fact, we say “Godspeed,“ though God has sped
and left us to worthless bounties of greed
in hope we will reformulate our creed
before we final humans all drop dead.
Behold, this dialectic of surfeit and need
that limits us all at times to limitless greed.