An Overpopulation of Dreamers
Author: Bill Roberts
Better by far than the alternative:
being overrun in this out-of-control world
by a bunch of conniving schemers.
So many of us dreaming we’ll win Lotto,
snare the brass ring, have Fate smile upon us,
meet Mr. Right, be the last “Survivor,”
sing our way to stardom on a rigged
talent show, collect an Emmy or Oscar.
Better certainly to have a pipe-dream
than to hatch skullduggery, plot a scheme
like fast-dealing, damned convincing
Bernie Madoff. Bernie’s evangelical
think-alike in my experience was a cohort
by the name of Gene Nobody, last name
concealed to protect those he duped.
Gene, even into his late fifties, had the face
of a fallen angel, the silver tongue that
made people reach for their wallet,
reap enough greenery to propel Gene into
a Ponzi scam like Bernie’s, only Gene’s
bilked from the goodness of Christian pals -
but Ponzi schemes know no religion.
Gene only separated three million from
church friends before they got wise, a trifle
compared to Bernie’s outrageous billions.
Bernie pulled 150 years, Gene only 120.
Hey, dreamers – fair is rarely fair, so there.
(Published online on 4/12/10 in the Marquis Cafeteria Round Table)
Gene Nobody is a real somebody in my life, though I haven’t seen him – just read about his current exploits in the newspapers – for thirty of more years. We used to be neighbors, got involved in some insurance business transactions.
Why a good Christian boy – or man – like Gene chose to get involved in the ungodly life of crime (did he know what he was doing, I ask myself) is beyond me. It’s why I write so much about human nature, often exploring the John Edwards syndrome. People can be so puzzling.
