Tokenism

 

 

We get what we settle for

With a promise to do better,

Such is exciting comfort to a fool

But not to the go-getter.

 

Tokenism, it is,

That’s what we settle for

And then the legislators get more

And this we abhor.

 

Stipends and tokens

Go hand in hand,

“Keep them coming back for more,

That is the plan.”

 

A dependence syndrome!

Fettered hand and foot,

A little token every now and again

The measure of their luck.

 

 

A gaily coloured object

Twinkling in the sun

But worthless as the trampled snow

When the sunlight is done.

 

“Take this for now,

That is all we can spare,

Next time we will do better,

Don’t you fear.”

 

I heard only recently

“Kudos to the hospital staff,”

But tokenism jumped out at me

And I had to laugh.

 

Such deplorable conditions

Under which they work,

But sweet talk and patronizing

Will soothe where it hurts.

 

 

Some receive high salaries

For doing precious little

While others who receive mere tokens

Can scarcely buy victuals.

 

It is getting more difficult

To live off mere tokens,

A strategy in some countries

For the down trodden.

 

 

 

Tokenism could be money

Always in very small sums

Like that you’d pay for odd jobs

To a homeless bum.

 

Tokenism could be words

Or sometimes a handshake

Making the recipient feel valued

Unaware it is faked.

 

Employed by conmen

To get something for nothing

Like selling a fridge to an Eskimo

That has stopped thinking.

 

Salesmen use it too

Just like most politicians,

Only that in the latter’s case

For them it’s a mission.

 

 

They do it to win a seat

And continue after they’ve won,

They are at one with tokenism,

For them it’s never done.

 

It’s mostly the disadvantaged

On which tokenism is used,

Yes, that “comfort to a fool” ploy

By which one is abused.

 

Stewart Russell © March 13, 2024