In the beginning was the steam engine
Belching coal smoke powering the industrial revolution
The engine of profit for those who owned the machines
Extracted from the workers who produced the goods
And the rest is history from then to now
A new geologic era called the Anthropocene
As if all of humanity is responsible
Obscuring the culpability of the capitalist class
For their wars of conquest to devour resources
Polluting our air and water and land
For creating their ever expanding empire of poverty
Amassing their personal megafortunes
Their greenwashing words meant to deceive
In the face of the dire impacts of the climate crisis
Talking of abatement to confuse the issue
Continuing on with business as usual
What else would you expect from this system
That promotes private wealth at the public expense
Even as the sixth mass extinction accelerates
The capitalists fiddle while the planet burns
