The Shallowman has friends <br />he counts as assets, <br />for favors he might need <br />from time to time. <br />He lists their skills and <br />contacts in his busy greedy mind. <br />He’ll call them when he needs them <br /> when next he’s in a bind. <br /> <br />The Shallowman is jovial and great fun. <br />With tales, and yarns <br />he’ll entertain the crowd <br />Backslapping, and backstabbing <br />he’ll amuse and castigate all round <br />They’ll laugh, <br />but not laugh with him. <br />The Shallowman can’t read their hollow sound. <br /> <br />The Shallowman is lonely at the end <br />for all the hale and hearty cheer is false. <br />the friends when stripped of favours <br />don’t deserve a second thought <br />the Shallowman can’t see their worth <br />when they’ve nothing more to offer only friendship <br />and friendship by itself can’t satisfy <br />his lonely shallow want. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MARTIN SWORDS, JUNE 1999<br /><br />Martin Swords<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-shallowman/
