Mordacious Limericks about Greed and Materialism

It has long been my dream, and probably always will be, to write a limerick that can save the world. But to save the world from what? If there’s anything from which poetry can save the world, it’s probably ignorance and selfishness. I’m not overly optimistic about rescuing anyone from ignorance, but I’ve already tried my best with my Limericks about Metaphysics and Limericks about Inner Voices.

Today I present this series of Limericks about Greed and Materialism in hopes of taking the first step in ridding the planet of this self destructive affliction. Before we can prescribe a cure, we first need to diagnose the disease. This form of mental illness, not uncommon among our species, is driving our planet to the verge of an environmental apocalypse. Not only that, but it’s tearing apart the fabric of society and community.

To liberate our race from the chains of selfish avarice will require nothing less than a global awakening. And if a treasury of limericks can’t do it, then I’m afraid I can’t help you.

Limericks about greed

     Underwater Rat Race
     Before racing upstream with the salmon
     There’s a blunder we’d better examine
               The price of your soul
               Can’t be measured in gold
     Yet our lives are devoted to Mammon

     The Diabolical Bargain
     To aggrandize the body the spirit is sold
     For a few dirty pieces of ill-gotten gold
          An unthinkable pain
          For material gain
     A story as ancient as any been told

     Meeting Mephistopheles
     A Faustian bargain produces results
     Concerning the greed of consenting adults
               But they suffer the cost
               When their souls have been lost
     And lightning comes striking in thunderous bolts

     Avarice
     Go forth young apprentice and see what’s in store
     Take all you can without asking what for
               Just gather your stuff
               It’s never enough
     You’ll always be wanting a little bit more

     The Modern Myth
     Purpose and meaning are two things we need
     Thus we are drawn to belong to a creed
               But the spirit’s co-opted
               When the dream we’ve adopted
     Rewards and encourages trivial greed

     Steinbeckian Sapience
     The traits of success aren’t the ones you expect
     For kindness and sharing deserve more respect
               But meanness and greed
               Produce riches indeed
     As that which we prize comes from what we reject

     Greedy Geckos
     Silver comes easy to those without scruples
     Cut a few corners and line up the loopholes
               The law of survival
               Says poison your rivals
     And finish the race with a fist full of rubles

     Decline of the West
     Our standard of living has never been higher
     You call it success and I call you a liar
               Just look what’s in store
               And you’ll always want more
     When you’re stuck in a state of relentless desire

Further Reading

If you enjoyed these limericks about greed and materialism, please consider sharing the post or subscribing to the blog. You might also want to check out some of these popular articles.

• Poems and Limericks about Goethe and Faust
• Encouraging Limericks about Virtue
• Limericks about Skepticism
• Limericks about Dostoyevsky
• Serious Limericks: There once was an unsmiling rhymer
• Therapeutic uses of literature