Reopen the  Economy; or Charge of the Right Brigade

by MARSHALL SAHLINS 

COUNTERPUNCH MAY 18, 2020

Half a shop, half a bar,
Half a school onward.
Into the Virus of Death
Goad the Sick Hundreds.
“Forward the Right Brigade,
Charge on your cards,” he said.
Into the Virus of Death
Goad the sick hundreds.

“Forward the Right Brigade!”
Was there a MAGA dismayed?
Not that the shoppers knew
POTUS had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to buy and die.
Into the Virus of Death
Goad the sick hundreds.

Covid to the Right of them,
Covid to the Left of them,
Covid in front of them
Slaughtered and sundered.
Stormed at with goods to sell,
Boldly they shopped and well.
Into the Virus of Death
Rode the sick hundreds.

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Marshall Sahlins is the Charles F. Grey Distinguished Service Professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Chicago. His books include: Stone Age Economics, The Western Illusion of Human Nature and On Kings (with David Graeber).