The Sweat Belongs t' Me/Poem/Bette wolf Duncan

The Sweat Belongs t'Me

The banker owns this ranch of mine...
but all the misery,
and pain and sweat that goes with it-
well, that belongs t' me.
While I might hold the title,
until it's clear and free-
the banker owns the ranch, the stock
and my machinery.
He makes it clear who owns it
when I'm late repaying loans.
While I might own the title,
the rest the banker owns.

Y' take a loan out on your place
when profit's t' be had-
but sooner, more than later,
the economy turns bad.
Recessions and Depressions
always hits the rancher first;
and farmers are the first t' pay
when the bubbles burst.
My grandpa used t' tell me,
"Avoid the mortgage trap...
Y' go t' bed with bankers,
y' end up with the clap."

"Expand...buy new equipment...
y ' gotta modernize..."
That's what the Big Boys had t' say.
I thought that they were wise.
And now the banker owns my ranch
and my machinery;
but all the work that goes with them,
well, that belongs t' me.
While I might hold the title,
until it's clear and free-
the banker owns this ranch of mine....
the sweat belongs t' me.

© 2000, Bette Wolf Duncan
This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author's written permission.