Language of Power

So true.
Many of my dreams and ambitions fall from my mind when I realize I don't have enough money to afford them.

Spreadsheets and columns, juggling and recording, but the money will only go as far as it can

Don't be shy, SeaCat - end Line 1 with an exclamation point!

The brevity of this has the mind going off in so many directions, for it implies that we've created a monster by assigning value to meaningless indicators.

The grievous mischief, the  monster that we found, the Pandora Box that we opened, via mathematics - is nuclear.  Of course, there are many mischiefs, of varying degrees of grievousness - but the one that I have in mind for this poem is the knowledge of nuclear energy.  The terror and horror of the nuclear fireball.  
 
I am mulling your suggestion for the exclamation point,  
   
SeaCat

Your poem reminds me of an experience from my youth.

Both my father and I worked as steel workers for the same company.  The steel mill was owned by the world's largest privately owned  company, Cargill.  In accordance to our union contract, it was at this time of year that we were to receive profit sharing.  But like every year during the 23 years that I worked there we'd get a letter attached to our weekly paycheck explaining that the company was in the red and were no profits to share.

This was the first year of employment, and after reading my letter I verbally expressed my surprise and disappointment aloud,
"If the steel mill doesn't make any money why do they keep it running? 😳

My father responded with words never forgotten.

" Kimmy, always remember, figures don't lie, but liars know how to figure. "

Nice reminiscence - I shall remember the closing words for possible use sometime ;)

Thank you

I strongly agree with your expression... And I enjoyed the brevity.

Einstein himself publicly expressed regret for writing FDR, urging him to create the atomic bomb - which had only been proven in theory at the time.
Nuclear energy in general is a dangerous tool to harness... One nuclear meltdown, and an area can remain uninhabitable for hundreds, if not thousands of years

I worry what the future might hold...

Keep up the great writing, SeaCat. Thank you for sharing this.

Thank you for your comment and the RL add; I am pleased that you saw the essence of the poem.

My pleasure, Sea :)