It Means Nothing

A poem from 1985

I am the leper in the magazine

I want your money

I am the starving child in Africa

I want your food

you see me laying with tears in my eyes

and flies in my eyes

but oh, it means nothing to you

I’m lying ill in a hospital

it’s a fatal disease that they can only cure in America

so please, please, please won’t you send me there

please save my life to show the world that you really care

but oh, it means nothing to you

show me to your room and

lay me down and

pump me full of human compassion

I’m lying ill in my bed

it’s a fatal disease that can only be cured in your arms

so please, please, please can I come there

please save my mind to show the world that you really care

but oh, it means nothing to you

so I lay on my own

and I curse and I moan

but it means nothing to you

please spare me your tears

‘cos I mean nothing to you