For the Tenth Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street

To the Campers at Wall Street

by Majid Naficy

As I was coming
To join your encampment
I saw a young woman
Who wanted to light her cigarette.

She neither bought matches
Nor begged  for a lighter.
She simply asked a man
Who was smoking a cigarette:
"May I borrow your fire?"
And she recognized
The reflection of his red fire
In his shining eyes.

Yes,
One fire
Can light more than one cigarette.
Fire belongs to all
And "to each according to his needs."(1)
Oh, you nonbelievers
In the "invisible hand of the market!" (2)
I am not kidding
The fire of sharing in your campground
Is undoubtedly
The fiery tradition of our smokers.
May your bright fire be smokeless!

November 8, 2011

1. Karl Marx Critique of the Gotha Program.
2. Adam Smith  The Wealth of Nation.

https://iroon.com/irtn/blog/17607/to-the-campers-at-wall-street/