Green Corduroy

Back in the years of grief,
when I was but a boy,
and we were on relief,
I wore green corduroy.

Green corduroy we had,
to signify disgrace,
and mark the poorest lad,
at the social level’s base.

But changed now are times —
green corduroy is chic,
and worn by him who climbs
to the social ladder’s peak.