Fine Ants and Finance

 

 

Fine Ants and Finance

What have they in common?

Or, what have they in contrast

Lest we have forgotten?

 

Well, they sound alike

If only at first

But if pronounced properly.

This must be reversed.

 

One we could do without,

Of one we are in dire need,

They both cost us some trouble;

One very much indeed.

 

 

One befriends the poor

The other is of the rich,

One is needed to deal with one

According to the script.

 

One is often lagging

Especially for the poor

Who are frustrated with the other

Creating many a door.

 

 

So many spots of entry

Besides window and door,

And through the many crevices

Found in any floor.

 

Regarding fine ants,

Such a lack is appreciated

While re the other ‘sound alike’,

On more we are fixated.

 

A little more is the cry

For the wretched poor

While for the filthiest of the rich,

Just a billion more.

 

 

Much there is in contrast,

In common, not a lot,

But having a lot of one of them

Puts us in a good spot.

 

 

Not so with the other

And you know which one,

It’s the one we have the most of

That we wish was gone.

 

Stewart Russell © May 26, 2025

 

Don’t Stereotype Me

 

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because I don’t agree with you,

Have I become a villain

Because of my varying view?

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because of the way I dress,

With that kind of labeling

I am definitely not impressed.

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because I am not in your club,

Just like you, please understand

I do the things I love.

 

Don’t stereotype me

On account of my community,

That may be the best I can do;

I mean financially.

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because I was talking to your foe,

It was none of your business

You don’t need to know.

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because of where I am employed,

It might not pay as much as you

But it gives me joy.

 

Don’t stereotype me

And disdainfully call me a fool

Simply because unlike you

 I did not go to a top school.

 

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because you know more than me,

I may not know what you know

But I am no dummy.

 

Don’t stereotype me

And say I can’t do anything,

If given a chance you’d be surprised

What to the table I can bring.

 

Don’t stereotype me

Because I work for you,

If I could do any better than that

Better I would do.

 

Do not stereotype me

Because I find value in life,

Perhaps I had a break you did not

But I don’t mean you strife.

 

All day long we stereotype

People we think we know,

It’s like, say and do as you see me do

For life is really my show.

 

How deluded we can get

As we climb to dizzying heights

When all but ourselves

We stereotype!

 

Each time you stereotype me

You show me just who you are

And just like you, I am better than you,

So much better by far.

 

Don’t stereotype me

Be I what you like or hate,

What you see is what you get,

I am me at any rate.

 

Stewart Russell © November 23, 2021