Day Thirty-five

Today's words:

Ice

Aluninium

Bribe

Indian

Tongue

"I wouldn't expect your approval," he began, filling the shaker with ice.

The cubes rattled against the aluminum

As he shook the drink. "But I had to pay that bribe.

"It was that, or lose all my business to an Indian

"Company. So when he told me I held my tongue

"And paid up, though I nearly shat my frock."

Just as a corrupt priest can lose hs frock,

So a business can be put on ice

If its owner wags his tongue.

That's why so much of the aluminum

Refining is done on the Indan

Subcontinent these a days. We won't pay their bribe.

I tried to bribe

His secrets out of him, but he remained straight in his frock.

Protecting the Indian

Market. Cold as ice

Or pressed aluminum;

I could see his tongue

Wouldn't be easily loosened. I stick out my tongue

At all of you looking for a bribe.

I'll carry on with my aluminum

Biusiness as usual and down the back of your frock

I'll drop some ice

Cubes. Now take that back to your Indian

Clients. I know the Indian

Market is huge, and labor cheap. But my tongue

Is frozen like ice.

I'll not pay your bribe

Or unloose your frock.

I'll stick with my aluminum

Business right here. Aluminum

Is needed here too, and shipping fron Indian

Plants expensive. So keep your frock

On and bite your tongue

Before asking me for a bribe.

My heart is cold as ice.

No, my aluminum isn't going anywhere. Use your tongue

To tell that to your Indian client who wanted me to pay a bribe.

And shiver, as down your frock the ice slips.