Wages
From slaves in chains to serfs tied to the soil,
Such was the arrangement down the ages,
Until folk were freed to work for wages,
But their lives still remained bound up with toil.
The world has become a market place, where
Nine out of ten only have labour power
To trade for life, selling it by the hour
For much less than what they produce, with spare
Value above and beyond what is paid
In salaries. Those one of ten who control
The wealth of this world would take it all
If they could as profits have to be made.
And so, by legal sleights of hand and stealth,
The wealthy extract from workers their wealth.
D. A.