Monday's Poetry: "The Banks Are Made of Marble"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator


This week's political victory by big business and the banks (the 2010 midterm elections) brought to mind the following protest song from the 1950's - a people's lament on the stranglehold that big banks have on our lives.  Unfortunately, with Republicans now in charge of the House of Representatives, things are likely to get worse in a hurry.

As you read the lyrics to "The Banks Are Made of Marble," you may hear the voices of Pete Seeger or Iris Dement drifting in on the breeze.

The Banks Are Made of Marble
by Les Rice


I've traveled 'round this country
From shore to shining shore
It really made me wonder
The things I heard and saw

I saw the weary farmer
Plowing sod and loam
I heard the auction hammer
Just a-knocking down his home

But the banks are made of marble
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver
That the farmer sweated for

I've seen the weary miner
Scrubbing coal dust from his back
I heard his children cryin'
"Got no coal to heat the shack"

But the banks are made of marble
With a guard at every door
And the vaults are stuffed with silver
That the miner sweated for

I've seen my brothers working
Throughout this mighty land
I prayed we'd get together
And together make a stand

Then we might own those banks of marble
With a guard at every door
And we might share those vaults of silver
That we have sweated for