The Rich Man's Burden

Nina Paley

(A modern adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's "White Man's Burden," 1899

Take up the Rich Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed
To sell your captives products
regardless of their need;
Go wait, in heavy harness,
on bosses far away--
So that your corporate masters
can save on workers' pay.

Take up the Rich Man's burden--
In patience to disguise,
To veil the threat of terror
With media that lies
By double-speak and symbol,
To serve your Bosses' gain,
To seek your Masters' profit
And cause your captives pain.

Take up the Rich Man's burden--
The savage Wars of Peace--
Kill, maim, explode, and torture,
to make the violence cease;
And when your goal is nearest
(the growth of markets sought)
Watch unemployed consumers
bring all your hopes to naught.

Take up the Rich Man's burden--
No iron rule of kings,
But rule of Corporations
that Globalism brings.
Their ports ye shall not enter,
Their rugs ye shall not tread,
Go, serve them for your living,
Go, serve them 'til you're dead.

Take up the Rich Man's burden,
and reap his old reward--
Employment for the boring,
TV shows for the bored--
The cry of other nations,
on whom you force your plight
Of quiet desperation
With military might.

Take up the Rich Man's burden--
Ye dare not hope for more--
Don't challenge ye the system
That churns for greed and war.
By all ye will or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
Stay silent, sullen peoples,
You've got your jobs to do.

Take up the Rich Man's burden!
Do not think for yourself!
Obey the Bosses' orders--
Half devil and half elf!
Work for the Rich Man's profit
Die for the Rich Man's war;
Take up the Rich Man's Burden
And stay forever poor.


Multi-talented Nina Paley created the weekly comic strip "Nina's Adventures" from 1988-1999, and has recently completed "Pandorama," a 3-minute animated cameraless film that is being screened at festivals internationally. Her website is at www.ninapaley.com.


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