Houghton's Bank Poem by Jonathan ROBIN

HOUGHTON'S BANK

Herd instinct wannabes beg bridge funds, but
Often, spendthrift, find requests for loans
Unsecured denied. Bank makes no bones
Grabbing from those who’d raise themselves from rut,
Hand extended, scored, endures deep cut,
Turns topsy-turvy projects, risk condones,
Obstructing time-vault access with crisp tones,
Neat writing on the wall cites scuttlebutt.
Banking’s a profession where the gut
Active role takes, stakes past winners, drones
Need putting in their place. Prudence postpones
Knackers’ needs, weeds, tightens screw, bolt and nut.
However write-offs rise as profits fall,
Because tight guidelines can’t encompass all.

13 July 1992 revised 2 January 2009
robi03_0581_robi03_0000 ASX_JXX

for previous version see below



Houghton's Bank


Here many beg to borrow money but
Offer scant security, their loans
Unjustly are denied and dialling tones
Grow silent, windows shuttered, when door’s shut.
Helping hand where proferred takes deep cut.
Trips many projects while it waste condones,
Opens not the time-vault, makes no bones
Nor panders to the poor trapped in their rut.
Banking’s a profession where the gut
A role should play to back the winner, drones
Need putting in their place, and thus new loans
Keep screw vice tight with prudent bolt and nut.
However, write-offs rise as profits fall,
Because tight guidelines can’t encompass all...


13 July 1992

© Jonathan Robin