Emphasis On Excess

An emphasis to teach it taught,
That excess to obtain and acquire...
Is the meaning of success,
To focus upon to prioritize to get.
Has its adverse effects kept misinterpreted.
In a society driven by competition.
Leaving those who compete for attention,
Doing whatever they can to find ways...
To address impressions made to make.
Left feeling worthless without value.
If no one notices,
Who they are to respect as a human being.
And not subservient to things possessed.
That neither breathe, hug or touch.
When that need to want and have so much,
Is not acceptable to expect.
From the ones who only live to assess,
What someone else has to offer.
Before they will allow themselves,
To evaluate the expense it takes...
In public view to lose,
Misplaced values others may perceive,
As an abnormal reaction.
Beneath their pretensions achieved.

'You will not believe this,
But the other day I approached someone.
I 'thought' I knew for many years.
To give them a warm welcome and a hug.
And...
They looked me up and down.
As if to evaluate how I was dressed.'

'Stop!
Don't tell me anymore.
You were either inappropriately dressed.
Or they were with someone else,
They wanted to impress.
And you did not fit the picture.'

'What are you saying?
It was early in the morning.
And I was outside exercising.'

'All funky and sweating too, I bet.'

'Yes.
And, I was on my way home.
To take a shower.'

'You did not know them.
To be who they really are.
And obvious to me,
Whoever it was didn't know you at all.'

'We went to school together.
When we were friends.
And back then, lived in the 'hood'.'

'Okay.
And your point to make is what?
Like I said,
You did not know them.
But I am willing to bet,
You know who they are to be now!