Why Do We Do The Things We Do?

Why do we do the things we do?

Do we do it for the betterment of me and you?



What a perfect world you must live in

Without flaw in character trait or person

To think that we live without expectation

To think that we live without exaltation

These are but damp, sodden twigs

That feed the insatiable raging fire that digs

Dwelling deep in the abodes of our hearts

The swirling mist of seawater that parts

Of voracious hidden cyclones within

It keeps society from caving in

For but a split-second, don’t you consider

For the flame can merely thrive, then slow and wither

On such shallow demeaning qualities

It needs new forms of sustainabilities

A form of effective altruism need abound

To secure our future safe and sound



Why do we do the things we do?

Do we do it for the betterment of me and you?



What trench has our society submerged into

To incentivize even the most simplest of things we can do

In its dire efforts to relay a charitable act

For schools to promise its students a fact

A slice of cheese pizza and free Breyers’ ice cream

For Red Cross to receive a donation it may seem

To the scattered, shivering, scared victims of Typhoon Haiyan

When it should be no question to help another man

For schools to teach students materialism

By rewarding them with prizes, raffles, and drawings--a secret form of monetarism

An iPad, a Nook, a Kindle, the latest and greatest

Whenever they attain an accomplishment deemed meritorious

For schools to offer test-corrections

For the sake of inflated statistical recognition

As opposed to the sake of learning

Understanding, comprehending, recollecting, reflecting



Why do we do the things we do?

Do we do it for the betterment of me and you?



If material things are all that matter

What then of the things that truly matter?

The qualities that make up our character

Are under threat by our benefactor

For some may argue that is justified

That as long as it gets the job done, ‘tis dignified

But if we are a society founded on fare

What makes you think anyone will care

When you are cold, afraid, and full of hurt

They will throw you to the side like a piece of dirt

We need a society that does not expect in return

But intellectual enlightenment shall they yearn

Incentivization is the fall of man

Disillusionment--its game plan



Why do we do the things we do?

Do we do it for the betterment of me and you?

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