Eileen Tabios


 

The American Nightmare

"Conspicuous consumption: a casualty of recession"
--Shaila Dawes, The NYTimes, 3/10/09



How does a recession
become a "cultural crisis"?

The socialite dug deep
into her closet
for a 10-year-old dress——
The doctor now patronizes
restaurants that take coupons——
They keep their car for another year——

The politicians called
for "spending as solution"
then reversed to urge
a prolonged "spending freeze"

But we can´t "revive the dream"
without CHANGE. First,
leach money out of our nightmare...

 

[painting by Joan Sloan]