Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else, Except Richer Poem by Ogden Nash

Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else, Except Richer

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This is a song to celebrate banks,
Because they are full of money and you go into them and all
you hear is clinks and clanks,
Or maybe a sound like the wind in the trees on the hills,
Which is the rustling of the thousand dollar bills.
Most bankers dwell in marble halls,
Which they get to dwell in because they encourage deposits
and discourage withdrawals,
And particularly because they all observe one rule which woe
betides the banker who fails to heed it,
Which is you must never lend any money to anybody unless
they don't need it.
I know you, you cautious conservative banks!
If people are worried about their rent it is your duty to deny
them the loan of one nickel, yes, even one copper engraving
of the martyred son of the late Nancy Hanks;
Yes, if they request fifty dollars to pay for a baby you must
look at them like Tarzan looking at an uppity ape in the
jungle,
And tell them what do they think a bank is, anyhow, they had
better go get the money from their wife's aunt or ungle.
But suppose people come in and they have a million and they
want another million to pile on top of it,
Why, you brim with the milk of human kindness and you
urge them to accept every drop of it,
And you lend them the million so then they have two million
and this gives them the idea that they would be better off
with four,
So they already have two million as security so you have no
hesitation in lending them two more,
And all the vice-presidents nod their heads in rhythm,
And the only question asked is do the borrowers want the
money sent or do they want to take it withm.
Because I think they deserve our appreciation and thanks,
the jackasses who go around saying that health and happi-
ness are everything and money isn't essential,
Because as soon as they have to borrow some unimportant
money to maintain their health and happiness they starve
to death so they can't go around any more sneering at good
old money, which is nothing short of providential.

Bankers Are Just Like Anybody Else, Except Richer
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Anusha Satish 16 August 2012

i needed summary from the exam point of view could you please help? ? ?

16 3 Reply
Chandrakalaa 16 June 2021

Informative

0 0
Mohd Faeem 17 April 2013

what is the bankers attitude towards people with low income who want small loans? Explain.

10 4 Reply
Keith Oldrey 23 December 2011

Nothing changes with bankers, self important bankers If you've got it, you have mates If not then its too late The more you owe the more they love you For interest is the thing with which they screw you Keith Oldrey

9 2 Reply
Franklin Johnson 16 January 2014

The word should be 'withdralls' (sic) . Never change Ogden Nash's spelling!

9 1 Reply
Chinedu Dike 12 July 2022

Really an interesting piece written with insight

1 0 Reply
sajitha 29 June 2019

'why do you brim with the milk of human kindness and urge them to accept every drop of it" .....

0 0 Reply
Kahuto Chishi Sümi 22 March 2019

Thanks for posting. I came across it many years ago and it stuck in my head.

0 0 Reply
Sandra Feldman 28 December 2016

Poetry can be carefree, Poetry can be fun Just look at what this author With poetry has done. Truly and amusing and imaginative piece of work We can bank on that.

3 0 Reply
M Asim Nehal 28 December 2016

It is another business of money. Promoting Money lending and encouraging deposits and they know how to deal in money matters.

2 1 Reply
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Ogden Nash

Ogden Nash

New York / United States
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