The Difference Between Need and Want

a poem trying to capture the essence of the difference between the terms needy and greedy. We say we need this but do we really need it or just crave it.

The Difference Between Need and Want

 

Do you know the difference,

between the terms in which I speak about,

probably not though,

because your head is in your @$$.

Try pulling it out,

see the world around you for once,

the difference between need and greed is you,

that is it,

simple if you think about it.

Hey, don't turn away from me when I am ranting at you,

selfish ogre that you are.

People beg for a dollar from you,

don't notice them,

your hands busy frittering away,

texting your fellow gremlins,

bragging about the wealth in which your family hides,

from the people who really NEED it.

"Daddy I want a new phone... I need it daddy please."

the lines heard from the mansion chimneys,

the little boy face covered in soot,

the words I write,

I need to write them,

whether people want to hear them or not.

"But daddy all my friends have diamonds, and all I have are these pearls... worn and faded from friday last."

heard from the kitchen,

the maid's finger sliced by the knife,

cooking the meal you need to survive on.

When you treat people like this it makes me want too,

want to strangle the stupid from you,

want to die of laughter at the fool you make yourself out to be,

want to help the world as I can,

before you trash it up anymore.

As you read this,

think for a second,

did I need to write this or just want to?

and did you want to read this,

or did you need to?

Author's Note

I guess I was feeling a little angry today, just towards the people who think of themselves as king/ queen of the world. Looking down upon the rest of us, who do they think they are... teachers.

Reviews

[Paza]

now, i have no problem with people enjoying the money/things they have worked hard for, but i agree that the word 'need' is misused way too often. it took me a long time to break my own kids from telling me that they 'needed' things...they needed nothing we didn't provide for them...but there were many things they merely 'wanted' that we wouldn't. i would always ask them 'need' or 'want'? and inevitably, they would look down and say 'want'.

as a rule, i don't even believe that giving anyone everything that they 'want' is a good idea...what is left in life to look forward to or to work towards if we are given everything we want? it just makes us think that we 'need' more...good piece on a topic i've not really seen written on before! and i WANTED to read this...you probably NEEDED to write it, though... :-) sometimes the muse just works that way!

[Pamela A. Lamppa]

"texting your fellow gremlins,"
I loved that line. As for Kings and Queens, supposedly we got away from that in 1776. Ahhh. You'd never know it on some days though.

All want and no need. Too easy to just give these days but the best gift is still the one earned.
You have a wonderful verse here filled with needed information.

This is a world those greeds will see soon enough. This economy isn't offering any free rides anymore and it will still be a bit before it does again. Social classing - by monetary gain.

Well done poet. ~Pamela

[Rain]

Very clever approach, and most important, you nailed the ending. Good piece. Rain..

[Angelic Darkness]

People like that piss me off too...but like I've always heard, they can't take their
riches to Heaven, so what do they have then....not a damn thing! I go on, and know
who I am inside and don't owe no one a explanation. The answer to your question
at the end...I wanted to read this.

AD