Human selfishness

Aribam Surjeet Sharma

Hale and hearty is the economy
When hitched up to profit motive,
The soul of capitalism.
Frail and sickly is the economy
When hitched up to social welfare,
The soul of socialism.

There's a noble vision in socialismA society without classes,
And wealth equally distributed;
But, this in the realm of dream;
Because, very very few people
With the halo of nobility
In the precinct of their heart.

There's a selfish vision in capitalismA few making a lot of money
And wealth unequally distributed;
And this in the realm of reality;
Because very very few people
With no taint of selfishness
In the precinct of their heart.

Any system, social or economic,
Howsoever perfect and fine,
Will remain dull and lusterless
Like a diamond unworked
If not polished and refined
By generosity and nobility--
A prospect if and only if
They outshine selfishness.