Costly Is The Overhead Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Thieves will steal to have believed,
They are founders of organizations.
To discredit the integrity,
Of the ones they slander.
With the support given to those,
Disbelieving or not to know...
They have been used as tools to deceive.

And...
Incredible as this is it is not unique.
People plagiarize.
From others to do,
To disguise a lack of having abilities.
Whether innovative and creative in thought.
Or stop to think,
Eventually it will take more than charm...
To satisfy a noticed incompetence,
Continuing to allow...
A needed soliciting of funds,
From the ones who have only witnessed...
The successful repetition,
Of one failure to another to perform.
With tasteful pretentiousness.
And exquisite qualifying grace.
Hoping this charade will replace,
A duping overused to deceive, trick and fool.

"On your latest request for yet another loan.
On 'paper' you claim,
Your organization is diversified.
And includes demographics.
Done to identify and verify with photographs.
However...
It has been discovered the pictures you use,
Are the same ones anyone can view.
If they shopped at discount stores.
Seeking calendars of faces.
Models are paid for their wholesome images taken.
We've come to witness and to view,
Your fantastic organization in operation."

-Uh...
Who knew you would come,
When we have been auditing ourselves.
Seeking to find ways,
To cut our expenses.
And the costly overhead,
It takes to offer the community...
Life experiences they can only find here.-

"Oh?
Would that be the same community,
You claim to service.
With elaborate furnishings,
Imported from overseas.
No one in the community is permitted to see?
Or the mahogany desk you sit behind.
Finding new ways to keep us blind? "

-Noooo.
Your suspicions are appalling and upsetting.
The funding we sought and continue to seek,
Is to afford to give them dreams.
And possibilities.-

"And...
When do you intend,
For those dreams and possibilities...
To be within their reach? "

-That has yet to be decided.
We are still awaiting,
For the interior designer...
To give us an estimate,
Of the cost it will take...
To renovate this place.
Look at the marble floors.
Now I ask of you...
Who in the community,
Would step a foot on this stuff? -