So keen to get a pound of human flesh, Shylock,*
Was jubilating, wearing his long beard and frock,
But young Portia, garbed in lawyer`s dress, with mind bright,
In court, solved the case against Shylock, outright.
*One of the principal characters in "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare
It is a business truth
And transformer of lenders into Ruth
Who have been infamous Shylock
Or a hesitant safe with lock ...
A borrower to soften his voice
And watch its magic
By far more helpful than a cobra’s poise
Or Insistent Logic;
A lender’s lost key to his savings booth
Quietly warranting a hammer or Jaguar’s tooth
The voice of the badly broke
When penury has begun to choke
Should be often tender
To the rescuing lender
The broke an unconditional blender
For the service lender has to render.
Shylock
Carried lock
Key not
To open Venice!
"if you prick us,
Do we not bleed?
If you tickle us,
Do we not laugh?"
Your crime filled eyes
Stare upon me
As if..
As if I were the devil.
Your hateful smiles,
Evolve into meere sneers.
Your fingers point,
Your smiles spit,
Your mind mocks,
But you choose no different.
"I am a Jew"
I suffer,
I'm called 'dog'
An yet...
You run to me
For money.
"I am a Jew"
Your society
Is my jail.
I'm imprisoned
By your rules,
Your religion.
"I am a Jew"
You hate me
Not for my looks,
For my house,
Nor my words...
And most certainly
Not for my money.
"I am a Jew"
Mistreated....
Misunderstood....
Alone, deserted
Even by my own daughter,
With no where to go
No one to love...
And only Christians to turn to.
"I am a Jew"
Moneylender
You were rejected by your fellow man
A pound of flesh to heal your wounded pride
A just reward for squelching on a loan
Your hatred toward these men-- I understand
Burns deeply in your heart and it resides
You were rejected by your fellow man
They bully you, so now you take a stand
Measured by Scale of Justice you supplied
A just reward for squelching on a loan
You make an honest living, better than
The ones who cruelly mock; cast them aside
You were rejected by your fellow man
Losing your daughter, ducats and your land
Upon the law of God you have relied
A just reward for squelching on a loan
To write you off as evil was the plan
They persecute and fool you with derides
A pound of flesh to heal your wounded pride
A just reward for squelching on a loan
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