The Market

The Market touches your nose with his scented finger,
afterwards, the same long finger points to the bottle of perfume.
Such is the Market:
sensually aggressive – a charming bastard.

The Market wants you to look after everything he provides.
He can protect himself and he teaches you,
that is why he will sell whatever you need to buy.
I know him, and I tell you – you’ll actually need it.
Such is the market: a mobster.

The Market is crazy for you, Consumerism Diva
and he hits on you, swallowing you, transforming you,
into what anything that is swallowed becomes.
The Market is a sicko!

Because you long for him and desire him,
and you can no longer live without him,
the Market governs you
and puts you to work – ever more.
Such is the Market, darling,
a pimp: full of appetite and no sense of decency.

After all, the Market, just like yourself, does not love you.
That’s why he turns you on, he bashes you, he kindles you.
The Market is just like yourself,
only the other way around:
billions of times enlarged, even by yourself,
the market can only flourish,
while you vanish.

Versão para o inglês de Roberto Cataldo Costa.
www.verso.com.br