Quid Pro Quo

Quid pro quo

Hasn’t that always been the case?

Quid pro quo

Something for something in its place?

But it seems to be something else

As far as I can see,

Some are citing extortion

Others are claiming bribery.

From time immemorial

Quid pro quo was a practice

In the farming fields

As well as in the office.

I will spare you the details

Some are somewhat odiferous

But taken to a different level

Others are quite adventurous.

Quid pro quo was bartering

Your potatoes for my yams,

That was a legal contractual exchange

Between two neighboring farms.

Quid pro quo at another level

Could be a favor for protection,

Hence, if you grant me my wish

I will guarantee your satisfaction.

Scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours

Was always the way to go,

A promise based on a promise

Is my understanding of quid pro quo.

Politicians do it when campaigning

Though they seldom deliver,

And people are being fooled every day

By conmen who are more clever.

All of life is quid pro quo

It is written and verbal contracts,

If I give you something you want

I expect to get something back.

It has to do with outcomes

It is why we study and work,

It is why we choose a certain job

To get our salaries plus perks.

There was quid pro quo in Eden

Though Adam lost house and land,

The promisor there was the devil

And he was the world’s first conman.

Note I have said nothing about Trump

Congress will decide on that,

I am too far away to call that one

But we could always have a chat.

Suffice it to say as I have said,

Quid pro quo was always around,

There’s nothing inherently bad about it

But it can be used for wrong.

It’s like the hammer, the saw, and rope

Nothing is wrong with them

But in the hands of an imbecile

I am sure you see the problem.

Stewart Russell © November 2019