Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

The Jolly Merchant Bankers

The jolly merchant bankers are a rare and special breed
Delighting in their numbers and the quest for feral greed
They buy and sell and speculate and hunt in packs like hounds
Smelling blood when weakness shows in the euro or the pound
Pension funds, hopes and dreams and stability take the hit
When things go wrong, it's rare for them to be neck deep in the shit
They'll make their loadsa money at the market's growth or bang
I reckon that "Merchant Banker" must be cockney rhyming slang
 
The jolly merchant bankers are a mercenary bunch
Eager to make a killing on the slightest little hunch
For who needs sense or reason when there's hard cash to be had?
They can always pretend later that they really aren't that bad
Then wail that the press go after them when jobs are on the line
They'll find refuge in their London clubs, they'll find a place to dine
"We got that one wrong", they might say, and concede a point or two
While really not giving a thought, to the likes of me and you
 
The jolly merchant bankers are a delightful little clan
Eyes burning with intelligence while robbing their fellow man
Splashing cash around the bars, driving me insane
Rarely taking responsibility and dodging pain and blame
But watching screens and yelling may be the definition of duress
As they retire at 35 and claim they're burnt-out with the stress
But with a tidy pile stashed away, they can boast when with their gang
Yes, I reckon that "Merchant Banker" must be cockney rhyming slang
 
Written after reading this great poem by Jonathan Humble:  http://www.writeoutloud.net/public/blogentry.php?blogentryid=55719

merchant bankers

◄ Wired

Decision Made ►

Comments

Profile image

David Lindsay

Mon 13th Jun 2016 17:14

Thanks for the comments and likes :)

Profile image

Lynn Dye

Sat 11th Jun 2016 16:17

So much truth here, David. Well written, I love it.

Profile image

raypool

Sat 11th Jun 2016 15:05

If you follow this rhetoric with the wonderful quantitive easing to bail out the banks and flood the markets with money, you have a recipe for investing in London properties creating unreachable ghettoes in our streets.

A fine poem, David.

elPintor

Sat 11th Jun 2016 00:46

Hello David,

A very provocative piece..

The trade market and nation-wide economy is shrouded in mystery to most of us, as we only catch glimpses of it and are mostly disinterested beyond our own micro-economies..

But, your blog post brought about a search of some bit of truth..and thanks for that

elPintor

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message