T-shirts

I give T-shirts back to the earth
in the form of lint
recovered weekly from the drier.
They would, no doubt, last longer
if dried by sun,
and certainly would smell much better,
but I’ve succumbed 
to the modern flirtation with power.

 Debt stays the same or suddenly increases
by the purchase washing machines and driers, 
new cars, telephones and plane tickets.
In response, we increase our hours of work, 
drag with fatigue.

 In a word, we are no longer happy.   
We wish weeks away for weekends
that themselves are short, 
given over to drinking and dancing;
Monday’s regret,
already wishing for the weekend.

 This is how we live,
wishing instead of enjoying 
the free time new power’s to give,
blaming it all on work, the work we hate
and the debt we cannot give up;
do not think of saving.