The Tyranny of Things

When I see you love your car

More than your loving wife

Who is half-mad afraid of scratching your precious

I want to kick in the doors

And take a sledgehammer to the windshield

When I see your eyes bloodshot

For looking into widescreens all day

Shushing and kicking people away

When the have to pass in front to get anywhere

I want to cut the cord with scissors

And throw it out the fourth floor window

When I see you caress your dolls

Dust and display and light them daily

Telling kids they’re not toys to play with

And talking to adults like they are kids too stupid to understand

I want to douse them in lighter fluid

And watch them burn out on a hill somewhere

In truth, I would be sad to lose my things

But I would get over it

And I would never value them more than those I love

I am no Buddhist or angel with wings

Just a man aware of the tyranny of things