Bribes Poem by Randy McClave

I sent my son to college
As I did like the scribes,
All that he needed was his intelligence
And I didn't have to pay any bribes.
My son went to school to learn
Then to graduate with a degree,
Then he went on to higher learning
To earn himself a PHD.
I paid for his books and his classes
As any good parent would proudly do,
But, to pay brides for him to be accepted
That I have no care for, or a clue.
Some students will get a scholarship
So, I give them all a proud slap on their back,
In sports they have trained and learned
Determination and honor they do not lack.
But, for the students who have not trained
Or have not read or opened a single book,
Whose parents are paying schooling bribes
You are all, but a crook.
You are stealing from future students
And also taking from their future breakthroughs,
You are stealing from the true athletics
Your children could never walk, or run in their shoes.
We send our children off to colleges
To learn and to experience as Plato describes,
We send them with love, support and honor
But, never with lies or bribes.

Randy L. McClave