Jewellery and luxury I abhor and undesire,
For it promotes consumption conspicuous and so unfair
Those who show off, I consider bizzare
To garner for them an importance, of air.
But how far I am in this assessment, fair
For an empty pocket can neither ask nor desire
But can I air a view abruptly, uninviting, ire;
Who cannot back his desire, if any, with fare.
Have lots of money and say no to jewellerry,
Have lots of money and say no to luxury,
Have lots of money and say no to revelry,
Then I am great, now not, with pockets empty and eerie.
Narayanan Ramakrishnan
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/empty-pocket-2/
