My daughter asked me, "daddy, what's it like to pass away?"
I told her, "darling you see caskets earthbound every single day"
In silk, Armani, paisley-leashed and mortally entombed
Beneath green, rolling lights
That cry out "boom!" now "bust!" now "boom!"
Or worse, in grey-lit cages ergonomically designed
To crush the human spirit and annihilate the mind
I told her, "mind your footfalls, dear, for this could be your fate"
Unless you find a better way to circumnavigate
The traps and trusses deftly placed to steer your heart away
To dreams instead of higher pay
For all the commendations, all the prideful looks from dad
All the things your mother told you about the things she never had
For every cent and dollar, every shiny thing you save
Makes no lick of difference to the man who fills your fucking grave
You'll work until your bones give out
And finally you'll lie
On some exotic beach somewhere
Brows furrowed at the sky
'Cause in that restful reckoning
A train of thought will catch your eye
Now that you've hung up your hat
Can you afford to die?