After Working Sixty Hours Again for What Reason
The best job I had was moving a stone
from one side of the road to the other.
This required a permit which required
a bribe. The bribe took all my salary.
Yet because I hadn’t finished the job
I had no salary, and to pay the bribe
I took a job moving the stone
the other way. Because the official
wanted his bribe, he gave me a permit
for the second job. When I pointed out
that the work would be best completed
if I did nothing, he complimented
my brain and wrote a letter
to my employer suggesting promotion
on stationery bearing the wings
of a raptor spread in flight
over a mountain smaller than the bird.
My boss, fearing my intelligence,
paid me to sleep on the sofa
and take lunch with the official
who required a bribe to keep anything
from being done. When I told my parents,
they wrote my brother to come home
from university to be slapped
on the back of the head. Dutifully,
he arrived and bowed to receive
his instruction, at which point
sense entered his body and he asked
what I could do by way of a job.
I pointed out there were stones
everywhere trying not to move,
all it took was a little gumption
to be the man who didn’t move them.
It was harder to explain the intricacies
of not obtaining a permit to not
do this. Just yesterday he got up
at dawn and shaved, as if the lack
of hair on his face has anything
to do with the appearance of food
on an empty table.
Related quotes

I have often noticed that a bribe has that effect - it changes a relation. The man who offers a bribe gives away a little of his own importance; the bribe once accepted, he becomes the inferior, like a man who has paid for a woman.
quote by Graham Greene

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Roman Sentry
A soldier's curse is not the copper pay,
stationed here in this gods-forsaken place!
I'd bribe a centurion to leave today.
Anywhere! —lug my shield on the Appian Way
or guard the quarry slaves in rocky Thrace.
A soldier's curse is not the copper pay.
The land is weary, fit for thorns and clay.
The towns are crowded with a bearded race.
I'd bribe a centurion to leave today.
This hill is bald as a skull, cold and gray,
—and I left my woolen tunic back at base!
A soldier's curse is not the copper pay.
Sentry for rebels crucified today—
last year in Rome I won a chariot-race!
I'd bribe a centurion to leave today.
This one I know: I heard the governor say
'Ecce homo! ' (I don't forget a face.)
A soldier's curse is not the copper pay.
I'd bribe a centurion to leave today.
poem by William F Dougherty

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Love Toy
Doo wop bop
When it comes to boys
Mamma always said
Never let any temptation
Go to your head
Doo wop bop
Oh but its so tempting so delicious
When I kiss your lips
When I feel your fingertips
Cause ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
No, no, no Id be so ashamed
Beisdes Ive got my reputation to maintain
Must you be so darn persistent
Tryin to make me weak
bout to knock me off my feet
Ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
Doo wop bop, ooi ooi doo wop, doo wop bop
You are always on the sly
When I see you smiling
With that look in your eyes
Whispering those little secrets
You really turn me on
Doo wop bop
Makes me wanna have more fun
Ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh...que rico
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
No batteries required
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
Love toy
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
No batteries required
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
Love toy
song performed by by Gloria Estefan

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Malaysiana - David or Goliath - The New Voice
dont bribe me with
special privileges
give that to the
weaklings, those who
dont quite believe
in themselves
for me
make me that
special person
i deserve to be
someone who can
walk through fire and
storms
someone to
take on the world
anyone, anyone
from anywhere
like a tough eagle
those big or strong
do not really always
have to win big -
remember the david
and goliath story?
and i want to be able
to take on anybody
anytime, anywhere?
like an overpowering ealge
steel claws, mighty wings,
razor sharp beak
that can shred a buffalo
and eyes that can
see a hundred miles
dont bribe me with
special privileges
just make me that
special person
i deserve to be
strong, confident
and 'balled' enough
to take on the world
anytime, anywhere
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Fear the God
You can’t feed Him, nor starve Him;
You can’t please Him, nor hurt Him;
You can’t bribe Him, nor shun Him.
Praying to Him brings no results;
Fearing Him might. Do fear Him.
23.09.2009
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Socrate
Perceptions,
Indiscretion,
But they just silently went back!
Because you paid the bribe;
But Socrate your close friend disagreed with your act,
However, this act of yours was like a valuable experience for me.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Egoist hates being bribed.
I did him help
He gave me a gift.
I felt elated.
The other gave me a bribe
And wanted me to help.
I felt piqued.
The ego is bathed and pricked
respectively.
02.06.2002, pakd
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Inaction
we are watching
few parent paying donation to get their
children admitted in reputed school and collages,
while some other spending money
for extra classes for high marks for their children.
same people giving bribe to get their son selected for high post
lot of money spend on their future
to recover this they will demand bribe.
crowed is gather in around injured person.
rule and regulation are violated and amended
for the selected few people.
certain people not reporting on duty in time.
few people not working just sitting idle.
majority of people buying, but without bill.
We are living in 21 century
We know this wrong, but we will not act.
poem by Ajay Srivastava

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Million Dollar Question
Was always waiting for the crush
The car to drive right through the shops
To call in sick and late at work
And take a holiday
Was always tangled up in knots
To keep myself from speaking up
But no ones listening anyway
Just trying to bribe me
And if its alright
Then what are we doing here?
And if its alright
This place is gassed by fear
And if its alright
Ill tell you cos you never understand
And if its alright Ill beg you
cause Im a begging kind of man
Today I wrote a bad cheque
Packed a bag and took a jet
And no ones looking anyway
I hope you miss me
(sometimes I think maybe Im making a big mistake)
song performed by by Radiohead

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I'm for everyone having the opportunity to accept a $150,000 bribe.
It's time
It's time that you shine instead of
Shy, it's that you love so you could
Be loved, it's time that you live while
I leave, it's time to go because I
Already left, it's time to move on
Because my pride wants a bribe
It's time you told the truth because
The honesty will haunt,
It's time that you forgive because
They have been forgiven its time
You smile while I laugh it's time to
Change because I mischanged
To Share My Love With You
Beware that no one entice you with riches,
And do not let a bribe seduce you!
For the ear tests words and the mouth tastes food;
But i am here tonight to share my love with you.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Though the bribe be small, yet the fault is great.
quote by Edward Coke

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Heaven was inspired by the first judge to take a bribe.
Scam Lost Its Stigma
The bribe was once given
To lure one to fault.
Now it is demanded
Even to work to the rule.
Bribery turned into scams.
Scam has lost its stigma.
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Marriage is a bribe to make the housekeeper think she's a householder.
quote by Thornton Wilder

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Never underestimate the effectiveness of a straight cash bribe.
quote by Claud Cockburn

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Million $ Question
Was always waiting for the crush
The car to drive right through the shops
To call in sick and late at work
And take a holiday
Was always tangled up in knots
To keep myself from speaking up
But no-one's listening anyway
Just trying to bribe me
And if it's alright
song performed by by Radiohead

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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About Brother Rabbit.
Brother Rabbit and Brother Terrapin wanted to run round a tree.
They went to Brother Bear and asked him to be the referee.
He said to Brother Terrapin, “You win if you’re the first to take the stone! ”
Brother Rabbit ran and won as Brother Terrapin could only go,
He cried, “Brother Rabbit has run, but has he really won?
Look here, my stone’s on me, so I’m number one! ”
When Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit meet,
Brother Fox always tries to eat
Brother Rabbit who often thinks how
To laugh at Brother Fox. Now
Brother Rabbit said, “Have we met, Brother? Hi! ”
“Oh! I haven’t had lunch”, Brother Fox replied.
“But when we yesterday met,
You also said that.
Poor Brother Fox had no lunch,
Then have for it grass or a branch”.
Brother Rabbit’s taught Brother Wolf a lesson.
He’s done it to amuse his little son.
Now, Brother Wolf’s in a cage.
Nothing he can change.
Yesterday he ate meat in a trap,
And Brother Rabbit didn’t let
Him run out, he locked him then,
He taught him and needn’t teach again.
poem by Konstantin Ananin

Submitted by Poetry Lover
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