Down Payment

He had been born Harold
liked by some
admired and respected by many
most called him Harry
those who disliked him … other names.
He was rather proud of some
“ it’s a free world –
and I call people bad names, so if it’s ok for me …”.

Self-made.
He’d arrived in the country three decades earlier with nothing –
a builder’s labourer.
Now he owned a construction company
multi-storey building,
multi-multimillionaire.

I never quite figured out my job.
There was always work,
things to do – busy
but it didn’t seem to be …. a job.

It isn’t said my boss,
but Harry says this country’s been good to him
needs graduates,
and students need holiday work,
so every summer he employs half dozen or so.
He added
it’s his company – no shareholders or partners, just him
his profits
so actually,
he’s paying from his own pocket.