Stockbroker slammed it,
made it big, his portfolio
crammed with all his bids.
Became a wonder-boy using
wits and bluster, snowing all
with his daring ploy.
He raked in the dough,
made his clients thrilled, other
brokerages vied for his attention.
He hopped from one firm
to the other, they put big
bucks up to own that man.
He soon decided, why share
my load, no need to
cut my profit wholes.
I’ll be my own man
keep all the funds, capital
riches will be all mine.
Day trading’s the way,
just wait you’ll see, I’ll
attract an endless run of pay.
But capital ran thin,
the market didn’t play fair.
None of this was in his plan.
Hedging bets turned against,
wheeling and dealing
no longer made cents.
Soon clients’ nest eggs
subsidized his needs,
money flow turned to begs.
Borrowing, thieving,
telling lies, the risks
he took stared him
right between the eyes.
Greed distorted,
deceit sold his soul,
he came to believe his own
fraudulent contortions.
When all was spent
and all was lost, he
was left with nothing,
in his sickening descent.
You’ve never been the same,
you’re out of the game.
The man I once knew,
lives in a shadow of pain.
Image by YoTuT via Flickr
Related articles
- Study: Traders more reckless than psychopaths (bottomline.msnbc.msn.com)
Thursday Poet’s Rally Week 60: http://promisingpoetsparkinglot.blogspot.com/2012/01/agreement-for-poets-rally-week-60.htm
Open Link Night at dVerse Poets: http://dversepoets.com/2012/01/10/openlinknight-week-26/#comments
Bodhirose's Blog 
Sharmishtha
/ January 10, 2012what a horrible decay of human soul for money.
a fact that always amazes me.
fabulously written poem gayle. very well written.
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Bodhirose
/ January 10, 2012Yes, a horrible decay. I’m glad you like this, Trisha–thank you.
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Lorna's Voice
/ January 11, 2012I don’t know how people do this kind of thing for a living. It must be like a drug and it uses people up like drugs do…
Wonderful poem portraying the highs and lows.
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Bodhirose
/ January 11, 2012It’s really like having a gambling addiction. It eats you up like any other mental illness can. This person is my ex-husband. It was hell to live through and watch the decline.
Thanks, Lorna.
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Ostensible Truth (OT)
/ January 11, 2012to give into the humanity – the wants – powerfully told story here – “Greed distorted,
deceit sold his soul,
he came to believe his own
fraudulent contortions.” – ah to defraud yourself… nicely done! great seeing it linked up at Poetry Palace,
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Bodhirose
/ January 11, 2012That’s the worst of it…defrauding yourself. To believe your own lies…
Thanks so much for the great comment…I appreciate that.
Gayle ~
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Mr Blaque
/ January 11, 2012A true understanding of how greed can destroy the soul of a person. Nicely done
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012So easily if you’re not mindful… Thanks.
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Joanne Elliott (@soulsprite)
/ January 11, 2012This is especially the story of now. Well told.
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012You’re so right. Thanks so much.
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Natalie Sunflowers
/ January 11, 2012sad ending,
we constantly experiencing pain, that’s life.
Thanks for linking to poets rally.
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Yes, a sad ending is right. Lessons to learn and pay attention to.
You’re welcome.
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crayfish
/ January 11, 2012There’s an element of truth in it
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012This was a true, personal account. Very tough lessons here…
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booguloo
/ January 11, 2012What a decline.
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Ugly.
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brian
/ January 11, 2012mmm…hard reality when the heart turns…def would fit people i know well beyond traders….
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Oh, yes, many people let greed/gambling get the better of them. Day traders are a specifically reckless bunch…
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Kellie Elmore
/ January 11, 2012it truly does become a “sickening descent” powerful and poignant! nicely done!
http://magicinthebackyard.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/cigarettes-and-lipstick-napkins/
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Yeah, it’s sick. I’m glad you like this, Kellie…thanks.
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zongrik
/ January 11, 2012that’s great story telling for a story that’s oh so true
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012I appreciate that compliment…thank you.
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claudia
/ January 11, 2012think there are many that fall into that trap – and once you realize it can be too late…well penned bodi
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012It’s that gambling mentality…always thinking the next deal is going to be the big one that saves your ass… ha!
Thanks, Claudia.
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Madeleine Begun Kane
/ January 12, 2012What an excellent story/poem. You really captured that kind of person. Well done!
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Thanks, Madeleine…I appreciate the compliment. By the way, I really enjoyed your interview over at Poets United. What an interesting life you have lived with so many major career/life changes.
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Short Poems
/ January 12, 2012Great story, so nicely done!
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Very glad you liked this…thanks!
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charlesmashburn
/ January 12, 2012An all too familiar story in this day when money is a god. But, I guess it’s always been this way, just different means. NIce write!
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012I appreciate the comment, thanks, Charles.
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Raven
/ January 12, 2012I don’t relate to this sort of greed. I don’t get it on any level … it just makes no sense to me. You surely wrote about this well!
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012I don’t get it either…thus the divorce. Very sick narcissism and arrogance..what a shame.
Thank you.
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tigerbrite
/ January 12, 2012What a horrible thing to live through.
My partner is in the finnacial business. His most used sentence is ‘past profits are no guide to future performance’.
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012It truly was hell. Your partner is smart. Mine was smart too…but too damn greedy.
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nithvarma
/ January 12, 2012A good read.. 🙂
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012Thanks, Nithvarma. 🙂
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danroberson
/ January 12, 2012Those who are trusted,
Sometimes fall off the Wall,
And then they are busted,
With nothing at all.
I trusted and lost my savings. Your poem is indeed true. Thanks for sharing.
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Bodhirose
/ January 12, 2012You are so right, Dan. And so sorry to hear of your loss too. I trusted and lost a husband…
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Daydreamertoo
/ January 13, 2012This is all so true. Humans worship money now and that has become their ‘God’ Not very civilised are we when we can see others starving and homeless and simply want to make more money.
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012I don’t get that thinking at all either. The greed becomes all consuming…yes, like their God. If I ever daydream about what I might do if I came into a lot of money…I always think about who I can help…not hurt.
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thoughtsnotlost
/ January 14, 2012This was a journey for me filled with great storytelling and truths.
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012Well, thank you…I appreciate that.
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poetryroad
/ January 15, 2012Powerful and truthful words…great job!
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012Thanks so much.
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disjointedrhymings
/ January 15, 2012Great piece, I think you’ve really captured the industry. Hopefully they’re not all like that!
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012No, I don’t think they’re all like that…but I would say a lot are. In my experience in knowing people in that business…they’re a pretty arrogant bunch.
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Sheila Moore
/ January 15, 2012how very sad – so many do this, it’s hard to believe but at the same time, not.
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012Yes, very sad. Money can do some pretty heavy things to people.
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dragonkatet
/ January 15, 2012As hard as this may have been for your ex (if he indeed ever ‘woke up’ to the reality of it – some never do), I imagine it must have been doubly bad for YOU to have to be with him at that time, always wondering about stability or what would happen to YOUR life, etc….because a partner’s actions *always* affect the other person, the other person’s life…it’s disgusting that some people are so damned selfish and uncaring about the pain they inflict on other people. What a dumb bastard. I am glad you are done with him, G. Did it help you to write this? I imagine it probably would. At least it’s in the past!
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012It’s been many years since I divorced him and sometimes the memory of that painful time is just so sad. It affected me and our two daughters very much. No, he never woke up…still living in a delusional state of thinking. The girls and I are civil with him but realize that he still will inflict damage on us…if we let him. Fortunately for me, I made a clean break and rarely have to see or speak to him.
I think it does help to write about it when the feelings arise. I certainly don’t want to dwell on the past but I think it helps to process the emotions. And others who may be going through something similar can know they’re not alone.
Thanks for the support…it’s very nice to have.
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Chevrefeuille
/ January 15, 2012Horrible decay of a human. Well done poem.
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012Yep..sure was. And thank you for enjoying my thoughts.
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Tweety
/ January 16, 2012I am still amazed what is it in money that leads to such devastation of man…Yes money is important but is it the sole reason for happiness…Lovely poem…
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Bodhirose
/ January 16, 2012Yeah, money attachment can be a powerful means to decline. No, there are so many more important aspects to happiness…some just don’t get it. Thanks, Tweety.
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magher1
/ January 18, 2012This is a good story! Kind of reminds me of a movie ‘Wall Street – money never sleeps’… Money is not everything, so sad that some find out about it far too late.
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Bodhirose
/ January 22, 2012Thanks! You know I had just watched the sequel to that movie and was inspired to tell my experience with living with a day trader/stock broker. 🙂
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