Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, by BERTON BRALEY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Business is business,' the little man said
Last Line: "and that business is to serve!"
Subject(s): Hope; Optimism


"Business is Business," the Little Man said,
"A battle where 'everything goes,'
Where the only gospel is 'get ahead,'
And never spare friends or foes.
'Slay or be slain,' is the slogan cold,
You must struggle and slash and tear,
For Business is Business, a fight for gold,
Where all that you do is fair!"

"Business is Business," the Big Man said,
"A battle to make of earth
A place to yield us more wine and bread,
More pleasure and joy and mirth;
There are still some bandits and buccaneers
Who are jungle-bred beasts of trade,
But their number dwindles with passing years
And dead is the code they made!

"Business is Business," the Big Man said,
"But it's something that's more, far more;
For it makes sweet gardens of deserts dead,
And cities it built now roar
Where once the deer and the gray wolf ran
From the pioneer's swift advance;
Business is Magic that toils for man,
Business is True Romance.

"And those who make it ruthless fight
Have only themselves to blame
If they feel no whit of the keen delight
In playing the Bigger Game,
The game that calls on the heart and head,
The best of man's strength and nerve;
Business is business," the Big Man said,
"And that Business is to serve!"





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