Food for the Soil

When we define the elderly in economic terms

we must say they are worth less than worms.
Worms pull their weight. Worms do not shirk.
They know their place and they work, work, work.
And when a worm is stiff, rolled up in a coil,
it works again, offering itself as food for the soil.

And gears do their work, and chains, pulleys, wires,
nuts, bolts, rivets: the sight of them inspires
the communists as well as the cold-hearted capitalists.
Never mind the geezer's religion, his beating heart, or stories.
We cannot squeeze a penny out of any former glories.

The old sick people better hurry up and die.
Ask the economically-minded if you want to know why.