Invested my time and energy,

My sweat and my tears—

All that,

Just for change.

Pennies, really.

The labour?

Way beyond heavy.

Inflation sky-rockets,

But the cheque stays the same

Every damn year.

Living from one paycheck to the next,

And underneath my work suit?

A bulletproof vest—

Not for protection from thugs,

But the system itself.

Healthcare?

Just another unforeseeable expense.

They drown us in debt,

Then refer us to financial counselors

Who take more than they give.

Doctors got more deaths

Under their belts

Than survivors—

But they still call it

“Care.”

They said, “Patients first,”

When they really meant “Money first.”

Just a little change.

Cops swore to serve and protect—

Yet they abuse, kill, and neglect.

Do anything… just for change.

A couple of pennies.

Like promising a safe haven,

Just to scam a couple grannies.

Politicians say, " for the people,”

But they only mean the one percent.

Pastors preaching to the choir,

But can’t ascend—can’t represent.

This world must be made of havoc—

It's descending

Smiles stretched wide over aching teeth

What's happiness

When we just play pretend?

Just for change.

For a couple of pennies,

One can make the world dense

Dark and desperate

And we still call it progress

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