Stealing Virtue

By Andrew R. Duckworth

“Envy and greed grow on the same stalk”

Namibian Proverb

I once got to meet a billionaire.
I shook his hand, we spoke,
And he had to be on his way.
He had an appointment in London,
A suit fitting, and he was taking
His private jet.
A few acquaintances looked at me
As if to judge my conduct.
They said that people like
The billionaire steal from
Those with nothing.
When we watched the billionaire
Give money to a poor woman, they said
“See? Now he is stealing virtue!”