Paper Tiger

There’s a lot of talk of tigers in this jungle in the night,
Where the shadows seem to move and strongest feeling is of fright;
Only recently I realized just what that tiger was –
It’s the power of compound interest – tiger’s teeth and tiger’s claws.

When the paper tiger’s for you it can make you rich of course;
When it looms before your pathway it’s the step beyond divorce –
In society a sequence shows which one is hated more,
And its bankruptcy – what happens after one goes out the door.

As the earth tilts back to winter, we move past the equinox,
Days and nights no longer equal we can see that paradox,
For the length of summer sunshine and the length of winter days
Are quite equal in their shifting – like the tiger and his ways.

It’s ten hours that are different, five of light and five of dark,
Twixt the deep dark days of winter when the snow birds all embark
For the South to get some sunshine, wait things out till summer comes,
Then return with warming sunshine when the streams and rivers run.

That’s a lot like compound interest when it’s for you or attacks –
Feel the warming days of glory when the Tiger’s at your back;
Feel the terrors of the jungle night when shadows come to life,
Then the Tiger, compound interest, wrecks his havoc in the night.

Underneath it’s just rotation, tilting of an axis poll;
Compound interest is the power built in life that feeds our soul;
When they turn against our interests nothing changes, it’s just us –
We have put ourselves in danger, up against such power’s thrust.

In that fight things are not equal, you will lose, so be aware,
That the power of the seasons will not change, and will not care;
Nor will growth, the power of doubling stop to let you catch your breath –
It’s the power that grows the carrots, takes us all from birth to death.

Some folks think it is the power, “There’s no God behind the scenes”;
It’s a faith one way or other, but for me here’s what it means:
God gave power to us people – “Be my friend if friend you’ll be;
Here’s enough to live that out, if on your own you’d rather be.

“But that power has a use which I intended since the first –
You can use it by yourself if chains of love you’d rather burst;
But if you bring it to the table, mix it with the power I bring,
You can see all life exploding like returning life in spring.

“I have power you can’t imagine at My fingertips each day;
If you think that compound interest is the power, then let me say,
Did that power create this universe? Yes I know you think it did,
But beneath there’s a solution which will all your troubles rid.

“For my power is so much greater than the power at your command;
When I mix it with your assets, when you fall once more, you’ll stand;
I can rescue, and assist you, and that’s all quite fine and good,
But when healthy and back standing there’s much more – a flow of good.

“So just enter in that river, leave the silliness behind;
Join the Kingdom, throw your lot in with the plan I have in mind
For your life – for good, not evil, for the sunshine not the dark;
For the use of compound interest, turn around, so we can start.

“For like darkness in the winter, it gets brighter every day,
’Till the half-way point is reached, then even stronger sun to play;
Compound interest is just doubling – growth at work in business life,
Learn to work within its limits and stay out of winter’s strife.

“So don’t fret approaching winter or the shadows in the night,
Learn to deal with compound interest, do not let it cause you fright;
Most of all keep your perspective, it’s a power I made one day,
But I’m greater, have no fear, just take my hand, I’ll show the way.”

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