The Art of Philanthropy

Philanthropist shaded by his duplicitous curtain
By day, bright reflection glows in public sphere
Making his rounds with double time
feet scurry to showcase his estimable merit
Shuttling rich elderly from their burnished caves
to their tea parties and shuffle board games,
then to the sparse-clad city park to plant a tree,
so that future generations may breathe polluted air
To the local cancer clinic, to promise the latest cure
with one swipe of his pen, funding the latest elixir
Afterward, scurrying to the closest, urban zoo,
the latest, arriving endangered species to underwrite

By night, retiring behind his curtain's, dark shadow
mercilessly scolding his industrious staff
meticulously calculating his charitable deductions
with venom, citing his negligible tenants
phoning politicians to demand due favors
scheming with insider information to expand his portfolio
greedily planning to squander millions for his leisure
with miserly ardor, itemizing his wife's, token expenditures

By night, shrewdly squaring his frivolous value
so that he can spread his penance in the light of day