The Moneychangers

Avarice by William S Burroughs, 1991, woodcut and 5-color screen. (Rights pending.) Click on the artwork to enlarge and read!


the churches are emptying out
have you noticed?
the temples and mosques
have lots of space
'cause the moneychangers have
a bigger venue now, they've got
the world, picking our pockets
and it's killing us, my darlings

poverty breeds anger
that's what the bouddha said
and it leads to killer wars
between brothers and sisters
but the moneychangers are
ready to fill the void
poised to lend a hand
at thirty-something percent

got oil? got gas or copper?
nothing to fear but fear itself
'cause that's what it takes to
get the whole gang together
the moneychangers commit
to a few shares, but they're
well connected, they know the
who's who of extraction

the so-called wealthiest of nations
love the moneychangers
a bubble or two is enough to
send every politician kissing ass
if you're canned or sick, they say
there's nothing left, but
"help!" say the moneychangers
and there's not even a ceiling

we the women and men
who drive the machines
who feed their open palms
we're but indentured servants
but, darlings, we must
fault ourselves as well
for we are seeking
easy money, easy wealth

we're seeking celebrity and
worship of the self
"just one more thing and
we'll be happy!" we cry
and then the next big thing put
forth by the main stream
the one that will make you a star
that puts you in a bigger car

but it's plastic magic, baby
tubal ligation of
our brains and wallets
o dearly beloveds
watch the moneychangers
swipe the cards and then
fill up on more and better PR for the
next big thing they know we'll want

and the clerks
mayors and rabbis
our trusted servants
join them from behind
to steal from the blind and
sleeping congregations
wake up, wake up
the moneychangers are come

we are not a great country
this u. s. of a.
we don't even care for
our own sick or poor
but hey, the moneychangers
are all over the world
and it's just a handful that's hip to the
levelin', and they're gettin' better

my countrymen, wake up
world citizens, confess your avarice
if we change our religion
and burn our affiliations
if we boycott all of them
baby darling, perhaps, perhaps
perhaps, perhaps, perhaps
we can kill them