Credit Default Swaps

[PrinceMyshkin]

A Credit Default Swap
is an exchange
“designed to transfer the credit exposure
of fixed income products between parties,
wherein the buyer of a credit swap
receives credit protection, whereas the seller
guarantees the credit worthiness of the product.”*

Not poetry, then, unless collateral damage
is poetry; unless irritable bowel syndrome
is poetry.

“Man does not live by bread alone,”
Saint Matthew teaches us,§
but he says nothing about
Credit Default Swaps,

which are, assuredly, not poetry;
but, alas, we know
man does not live by poetry alone.

_________________________
*Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/creditdefaultswap.asp#axzz1ks4s3ou3
§ Matthew 4:4

[Delta40]

No but poetry could be the butter on the bread and credit the wine that washes it all down to the point where IBS is the only outcome - Man lives with the consequences of his actions!

Everything you write is worth reading.

[Hawkman]

Well I certainly wouldn't want to live by "Credit Default Swaps" as I would almost certainly default on the repayments. Can't help thinking these fiscal shennanigans are more akin to the activities of the money changers in the temple, and we are told that Jesus didn't like them much.

I don't think that any of the Noble Myshkin's poems could be deamed, "collateral damage." I can't speak for the notion regarding irritable bowels though. So far I have not been affected by it, not even when reading a poem by The Prince. :D In fact, I rather like this one :)

Live and be well - H

[BookBeauty]

This touches a cord of very real truth. Seems raw, in a good way. I see this as being written with a resigned air, and a great deal of wit. Thank you! :)

[PrinceMyshkin]

Thank you, Delta, Hawkman & Bookbeauty. I wrote this out of my recurrent frustration at that term "Credit Default Swaps". Who can understand it other than as another way to make money without creating anything? And the very language is devoid of any of the music or humanity that we treasure in communicating with each other.

[Bar22do]

This sent shivers down my spine, Prince! mainly as a message, though I'm not that much aware of what "credit default swaps" really is. Keep away from it if you may... and be well, Bar

[aliengirl]

Yet it is also true that man can't live by money alone. A touch of humanity, a warm smile, a little 'heart to heart' talk, all of these make life worth living. Thanks for sharing.

[AuntShecky]

I like this one as well.

I keep hearing that one of the flaws of the struggling economy in the vast and gorgeous country in which reside is that the companies which post huge profits don't really make anything, nothing tangible. All they do is move money (or the idea of money) around. Your poem brought this to mind.

Additionally, somewhere Robert Bridges may be smiling in agreement. He was the one (I think!) who said:

"There is no money in poetry. But then, there is no poetry in money, either."