The Praise of Mammon

Never trust the praise of Mammon.
It says that it loves you for your hard work,
When in reality, it covets or clings to your ability to profit.
It claims to respect your responsibility,
When in reality, it just wants a piece of your acclaim.
It is a jolly mate at sea, 
A bosom friend 
In arms.
And how it clings to its fellows 
When the rough seas of commerce
Toss the collusion into upheaval.
But how quickly it turns mutinous
When one among its ranks 
No longer serves 
The gain.
It is a barrel full of fat hogs
Rubbing up against each other
Each rolling, laughing, in the mud
And clinging to the warmth of the other
While despising anyone who will not play the game
And hating even more those who've tried and failed.