making prophets [part one]

i was planting green the other day, all i wanted was a garden
but the government kept coming round like traveling salesmen
said they were health insurance
car insurance
life insurance
said i had to give them some green
said some day, they explained, i may need that vaccine

now even though for them i set aside
a portion monthly for them to take and i
make do with what little left there is
i shrug my shoulders, just a bit, and say well that's life it is
my green still looks pretty good, thriving
my car, still driving
but what a shame my neighbors yard
all the deductibles hit them hard
all their green taken away
just because they couldn't pay
the vaccine cost they didn't account
and all those treatments, the devastating totaled amount
that day i kinda looked away
ashamed because i couldn't say
hey that's wrong to put a price
on something as natural as nature
something as natural as life
but i just stood aside i did
while all their green was fairly divvied
amongst the insurance corporate stampede
and as i watched their dignity stolen and sorted
i couldn't help but think for a moment
what my garden would be for bid
but the thought was passing as my neighbors things
were replaced by new faces and their new global blings

i rarely think about them now
how sad that day when all was lost
how i stood aside and gave up a bit
on faith and justice and the right to live
to grow a garden, green and fit
so quickly yes i do forget
while i look out at mine
and think oh my
how well i've done all these years
through all my hardships, laughter and tears
making do with all the bills
paying dues and still
such a beautiful garden, so much green
and to know in my heart
all is well
if ever, hope never, i need that vaccine