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Open Poetry #18
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D.Lester Young
Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1219
Austin, Tx

0 posted 2002-01-19 02:55 AM


"Enron stock is now worth about as much as a Florida vote."
In god we trust, in Wall Street we pray, in mahogany row we starve.
Reflecting on the ride to the top
My Explorer was climbing on rough terrain
But fear not I was riding high on Firestone Tires
I could go far because it was fueled by Enron stock
My face had a few nicks from a Sunbeam razor
Whose ex CEO was nicknamed Chainsaw Al
Even though the ride had gotten bumpy
And my bandages had fallen off
My heroes were ahead of me on mahogany hill

My former heroes who sold used cars
Are now peons lost in mergers
Somehow subdued due to the energy
That had taken them for a ride
They sometimes dealt in some lemons on the side
While my new friends use the same color
But it is worth a hell of a lot more

Their investments fueled by other misfortunes
Add wealth to their dinner plates
They can retire to a three-course meal
While others get a scrap of a retirement pension
To dine in sorrow
The paper issued on promises of gold
Is now only good at the other end
To take the fools gold within
Out of a system tarnished brown

Executive privilege does thrive so abundantly here
Even if it not in a White House
You can always send your vice president
To take care of business
And take a cut from a chainsaw with a different name
And especially when you are so familiar with the system
And how the auditor works

Mr. Anderson has such high hope
He fabricates his wishes
Upon a book of trust
But do not worry
It does not have on it
In god we trust
That part is in another special book
For the privileged to read

Yes I like my new friends
They can dine with leaders of countries
Especially ones with red, white and blue
It seems donations get paid back in triplicate
In the favors that opens up doors
While closing others that trouble so

It seems my friend took me for a ride
Down a one way street sideways
It seems all that he promised me in good faith
In Enron stock is now worth about as much
As a Florida vote
I was told Mr. Anderson’s memory had lapsed
And he was canned into the trash
Along with his belongings of trust

It seems like the trails to mahogany hill had grown over
And that the view had gotten more pristine
In the offices of  “in god we trust”
It seemed the politicians had all come up with the flu
But where afraid to say who spread it
Among themselves to feed on

I wonder why a politician is your friend
When they need something
And cry something like “Executive Privilege”
When the heat gets within
And the sweat of their past reaches them
And how they can bruise so easily

Oh hell I think I will go back to my jeep
With bald tires that hold up better
And buy stock in a church
Whose preacher has the right word
And I will clean my whiskers with a BIC
While meeting with this fellow he talks about
In a place so high
That only he can teach you how to get there
And there is some kind of pearl gate
Into his mansion
And no chain saw to steal it

D.Lester Young (01/19/02)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Copyright © D.Lester Young (White Eagle poetry)

© Copyright 2002 David Lester Young - All Rights Reserved
Midnitesun
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647
Gaia
1 posted 2002-01-19 03:15 AM


Talk about a timely piece, this is quite a politically and economically charged write. I like the way you wove the chainsaw in and out. Very cutting. And the sad part of all this is that so many people trusted and lost so much, and are left standing around with their hands in empty pockets, feeling so betrayed. Welcome to Enron and corporate America, and 401 K's...and to voters hell.  
JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
2 posted 2002-01-19 04:59 AM


I was sad when TWA went down the tubes but it seems like they went out with more class then Enron...I don't think anything dishonest has been done by the big executives at Enron that a little prison time wouldn't solve...perhaps this could be prevented in the future when we see some consequences...James
Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
3 posted 2002-01-19 08:04 AM



It HAS been a bumpy year...one in which the mattresses will see some green growth, I'm sure...

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