GIVING THANKS

WILL I GIVE THANKS FOR LAWYERS
WHO LOOK OUT FOR VICTIMS LIKE ME,
TO PROTECT FROM PREDATORY LENDING,
TO KEEP MY JOBSITE RISK FREE?

WILL I GIVE THANKS FOR THEIR TRYING
TO PREVENT MY ADVANTAGE OR PROFIT
'CAUSE' THE LITTLE GUY (OR GAL) IS GULLIBLE
AND THEY ARE DRIVEN TO STOP IT?

WILL I GIVE THANKS THAT POLITICIANS
EXPECT VOTES FOR LEVIES AND STUFF,
EXPECT ME TO SWALLOW THEIR GIBBERISH
THOUGH THEY'VE NEVER HAD IT ROUGH?

THEY SURELY WOULD THANK MARK TWAIN
WHO NEVER KNEW THE MEANING OF THRIFT,
WHOSE WORDS HE WOULD CHOOSE OR LOSE
IN DEFERENCE TO A DEMOTIC SHIFT.

THEY WOULD ALSO GIVE THANKS THAT BUYERS
AND SPENDERS ALIKE IN OUR NATION
MARK THE DEPTH OF AMERICA'S
ETHOS OF SELF-GRATIFICATION?

I THANK NOT. I'LL THINK FOR MYSELF.
I GIVE THANKS FOR MY PSYCHE PLASTERED
AGAINST THE WALL - ALOOF FROM HARM -
AND PROUD OF RESTRAINTS I'VE MASTERED.