Geoff Lander
Giddying
​
Anon was having a wonderful time
his Wonga away with the Swiss.
Some people said: “It's immoral.”
while others said: “Nothing remiss.”
When Stephen Green the Brighton boy,
(banker of high esteem)
traded a seat on the gravy train
for soup in the Cameron team.
Reverend Green, reverend Green,
a minister now, we see.
Pardon me, but a man-of-the-cloth
at the head of the HSBC!
Aggressive avoidance was all the rage
when Green was in charge at the bank.
Some people said: “It was de rigeur.”
but others insisted: “It stank.”
When Stephen Green, the City boss
(who holds the Good Lord dear)
opening-bat for the nameless elite
became a Conservative peer.
Wheels within wheels, wheels within wheels
and incontrovertible facts,
only one dodger at HSBC
has yet been convicted for tax.
The clergyman's bank did well in the crash,
so something there must have been right.
Its shareholders said: “By good management”,
its debtors: “By bleeding us white.”
When Stephen Green the pious priest
(dodging sins absolving)
took a trip down to the 'gas works'
and found the doors there were revolving,
Merry-go-round, merry-go-round,
no hint of corruption suspected,
the poacher becomes the gamekeeper
and the well-heeled elite stay protected.
And for those who like a sing song
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A Bucket of Hoggwash
​
A list of new peers and the nation's agog,
which toady or donor's made Lord?
Blimey, the moat-cleaner, third Viscount Hogg –
some think the system is flawed.
Dougie, dear chap, come and join the eight hundred –
the great and the good and the smarmy,
clearing your reeds should be publicly funded
the Telegraph witch-hunt was balmy.
Dog house and duck house, remember the story,
and we get it, plaintive PM!
But theirs is the kingdom, of course, and the glory,
and power forever. Amen.
​
Geoff Lander lives in South East London, in a borough where social service are rarer than hen's teeth. He is old enough to remember a Labour government being elected and to have voted for it. He tries to maintain with the smallest footprint possible, a left footprint. His light verse is to be found mainly on the humorous website Lighten up on Line. He was in The Robin Hood Book, but he largely keeps himself to himself.
The Token Dinosaur
They looked at all the candidates, were these the ablest?
So they trawled the backbench rebels thinking one might still exist
and out in darkest Islington they found a socialist,
Labour marches on. (de-dum de-dum)
Glory, glory Jerry Corbyn,
your success needs some absorbin',
see the Blairite clones awobblin',
centre-ground so long. (de-dum de-dum)
They poked the token dinosaur and lo, beheld a star,
with passion and a backbone and an ounce of nous, hurrah!
now it's utter panic 'cos the rest can say, ta ta
Corbyn marches on. (de-dum de-dum)
Chorus.
We might have an opposition, not just fifty shades of grey,
with no more Balls or Torylite forever and a day;
at last the under-privileged might well just have a say!
Labour marches on,
Chorus.
Quantitative Easing
What has this policy done for you?
As much as it's done for the ruinous leeches?
Have the vast handouts passed somewhat askew,
strengthened the poor or the world's Merrill Lynches;
the tax credit claimant or super-rich few;
the getting-by-nicely or ravenous creatures?
The need for re-balancing's long overdue,
read the Canadanian's vacuous speeches.
It seems QE's tinged with a mildly blue hue,
for everyone else though, austerity features –
healthy belt tightening and turns of the screw.
Tell me much talked about hard-working species,
has any great benefit seeped down to you?
A Bucket of Hoggwash
A list of new peers and the nation's agog,
which toady or donor's made Lord?
Blimey, the moat-cleaner, third Viscount Hogg –
some think the system is flawed.
Dougie, dear chap, come and join the eight hundred –
the great and the good and the smarmy,
clearing your reeds should be publicly funded
the Telegraph witch-hunt was balmy.
Dog house and duck house, remember the story,
and we get it, plaintive PM!
But theirs is the kingdom, of course, and the glory,
and power forever. Amen.
thistles stretch their prickly arms afar