Oliver Onion was not at peace.
From the pressure of greed and habit of
Gloating his mind seeked release.
His colleagues seemed to demand all his love.
Spilling Starbucks coffee
On their plush velvet carpet,
He was earning his big fat fee
At the New York Stock Market.
Together here with the Swells
Floating on Martinis,
He celebrated as his investment gels.
Like the other fat walking weenies.
Seeing his stock quotations on TV,
On his own special channel,
Images reflecting profits to be,
Prices doing the high ball ramble.
His boss lights a big cigar.
He lights one, too, to be correct.
Can’t be different from top czar,
Show him any disrespect.
Just didn’t know he was expected
To spend more time than with his wife.
It’s here with them he stays connected.
Was this any way to spend his life?
Oliver Onion walked to his office rather quickly,
Set down behind his desk looking kinda sickly.
Never in his life had he not been healthy
While working long hours to become wealthy.
But lately he was feeling well below average,
No longer without pain without an alcoholic beverage.
Would his money now buy him back his health?
He found his health now worth more than his wealth.
He had lost his health together with his wife and kids.
It was clear the place of money had put the rest on the skids.
Oliver Onion, sad and tired, rose from his desk for the last time.
Out in the hall his heart stopped beating ending his corporate climb.
---------------------------------------------------
The world's concept of happiness is getting what we want.
All merchandising is based on this concept.
People today see this life as a pleasure jaunt.
When the Smith's fell behind the Jones's, they wept!
As I grew up I watched commercials and read the ads.
I pursued the latest fashions and went for the latest fads.
I had to have the latest gizmo and most fancy doodads.
I bought the line mine had to be better than the other's pads.
Like everyone else, "I must be rich," I thought.
To be happy is owning more than others own.
I thought it was all in what I'd bought.
I didn't have a clue as to what makes a good home.
---------------------------------------
God's concept of happiness is quite simple:
"Happy is the man who wants what he has."
When focused on what you don't have, you won't feel a ripple
Of happiness until you finally reach an impasse.
Then you begin to appreciate what you do have.
You begin then to enjoy the joys of life.
God's way of love is like a soothing salve.
It overcomes the "getting ahead" strife.
Paul wrote to Timothy: "Godliness with contentment
Is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world,
And we can take nothing out of it." With our commitment
God provides as much for us as a fully stocked squirrel!
You have everything you need when you’re with God.
Through Jesus, God forgives us our sins.
Be thankful, Oh Man, created from the sod!
Everyone who God indwells among us wins!
Ellis
Author notes
About wealth and happiness
Written October 22nd, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Looking for Quality Poetry ... by ecrivain01.
450 points, ended January 11, 2008, 28 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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This Has Class
You came off strong.. Loving tha way u started this. And And U touched on tha Godly subject perfectly.. Real Nice.. -
Oliver Onion...there are many like him who wander here and there for thos treasures of money...but they die searching!
you wonderfully crafted a reality of life in a poem...Its not just a person's story but every one else's...sO True that it seems you are looking at your own mirror image...Wonderful work Ellis...pat your back and take a bow cuz u deserve it!
Love
Anshu -
Wealth can never bring happiness...hope and love are what make life worth living! Very wise words here Ellis!
Pam
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Ah, Ellis, your poetry always makes me feel good.
You are like a wise person who has inside information about life.
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This is really well written, and a great tale that we all should heed, a very thought provoking piece
indeed
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Interesting title ...
I must say.
I think you've got a good point here, of course.
Thanks for entering and Happy New Year.
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appealing
I enjoyed the parable and found the rest very sobering. I was sitting here thinking about Oliver Onion and realised that if you peel one layer off you find the parable, the next gives you something more until you arrive at the heart, which in this case is the love of God. Thank you. I enjoyed this and I am sure you did too. -
i love the titles you give your poems, this is just brilliant!
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This poem is no way near as good as Everything. I personally found it tedious to read although i like some descriptions you used such as:
“Together here with the Swells
Floating on Martinis,”
Illiterate Iguana
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Excellent write! Profound!
Now THIS is what I call a professional write. This is written so cleverly. It is well crafted, and carries a beautiful message. I never have had alot of money. I just live from paycheck to paycheck to support my family, but I have everything I need, He has provided well for me. I am a well stocked squirrel, nuts, nuts, nuts! LOL! I am fulfilled, and I am truly happy. Though, life has thrown me some curves, God has carried me through it all, and my experiences have made me who I am. These trials of life have taught me how to be loving, caring, compassionate and forgiving, as our Father in Heaven, wants us to be. Thank you for sharing this. I love this one.
Susan
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this was a bit long for me but It was good. Its true we all are guilty of wanting too much , some more that others this was well thought out and well written well done and thanks for sharing
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really as i peel back each line of this write i find it more delicious and flavorful than that that preceded.
Much enjoyed
shadows -
When we choose to give up
All our longing and greed
We find what we have
Is all that we need
Or from the Tao Te Ching:
"The man who is truly content has true wealth"
This is a heartfelt expression of understanding. Thanks for sharing.
Peace and blessings, Myrddin -
wow 1st off very long but worth the read!! 2nd i think no one relises what we got or is messing up until its done and over with...3rd how i have never saw such a long poem that never once lost focus.. your didn;t it was perfect! 4th this is a life lesson thank fully i havent yet learned from myself but i see from this how quick greed can mess up a good thing even if its not noticed til to late! i mean thank u i will be careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! well gr8te poem holla back at me T3T3
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This was an excellent testament to your realizations about materialism and more to the point your awakening to an understanding of a higher power and a change to the direction your life has taken on with that knowledge.
I liked the way you began with a sort of a parable of your own creation. Yes, there was lot's to think about here.
Well written and very readable. Tara
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Words to live by...
Great words, even better message. Thank you for the enlightening prose! I enjoyed the capture! -
What... do you mean by a "weeny"? In the UK it would mean a small and not very robust person... (Like the joke in "1066 and all that" about Caesar calling the Britons "Weedy, Weeny and Weaky!")
I meant wiener, hot dog, frank -- used as a "put-down," the same as there, as far as being derogatory.
And what is the "high ball ramble"? (I know more or less what a "high-ball" is - a kind of drink - but this seems to be something different!)
No! Nothing different. I just made that phrase up.
And although of course I know what a squirrel is, I am perplexed at how one can be "well-stocked".
Here squirrels are known for hoarding collected nuts for the winter.
--Ellis -
Ellis, How right you are.I am so happy with what I have.A loving man to share everything with.All the money in the world couldn't be better than that.So many don't know how lucky they really are and strive for more with dire concequenses.Good write, Ros
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Well, it is good to see someone who can produce a poem of a reasonable length! (There are so many minipoems and micropoems around... fine individually, but like cocktail nibbles, too many of them can leave one feeling over-full yet still hungry).
I have to say though that I have difficulties with some expressions you use (doubtless a case of what Wilde called "being divided by a common language!)
What, for example, do you mean by a "weeny"? In the UK it would mean a small and not very robust person... (Like the joke in "1066 and all that" about Caesar calling the Britons "Weedy, Weeny and Weaky!") And what is the "high ball ramble"? (I know more or less what a "high-ball" is - a kind of drink - but this seems to be something different!)
And although of course I know what a squirrel is, I am perplexed at how one can be "well-stocked".
This is probably a matter of US idiom... but as I said, I am a little puzzled. -
What's really important in this world? For many it is making money, and family comes second. You have conveyed those sentiments well in this poem.
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Written very well indeed.
Well I must say that you came up with the best explanation of what I feel. I am content with what I have and this is brought out by the satire on Oliver Onion. Too many times people reach for far more than what they should and once they get there they find like Oliver that they are unfullfilled. A great way to get a message across. -
hmm. well, the oliver guy must have more layers, being an onion and all...perhaps his slice of life was just too pungent, the money made up for his lack of love? maybe some hot french fry thought he had onion breath and he was spurned
poor oliver. 
i did not loose the meanning in this, especialy since you went on and added another whole poem under the tale of oliver about the same thing.
greed is a bad thing, but really, why pick on a poor oliver ? he was probably a sweet guy. -
Excellent
Amen! Wonderful write..Written so well..Such true words..Your, talent shines..
God bless always,
Betty
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I love the ideas you portray here, and the evils of --not money-- but greed and longing. ... one of my favorite sayings is "Sometimes when our wants are fullfilled, our dreams are destroyed"--and this poem is an awesome addition to that fact, heh... Very nice job, very well written, I love your word usage and rhyme scheme. The form and tone was good for this poem. Nice job, keep writing!
Mech
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aewesome! i loved them all keeep it up!
Edited on Oct 24, 12:13 because ''. -
excellent!
cool write!!!i love poems like this one 'cos they talk of God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ!!!!this is truly nice...it's kindda long though...i almost got bored but after reading it , i sure am glad i read it!!!this is really beautifully written!!great job!!!!!keep the good work up!!!!!
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