On Giving Gratuity

Elevation of the common place, making polite the awkward,
a charade that feigns equality.

I pretend to need you, yet I know you are small.
But I feel your envy, your coveting of my position and its power.

To keep the status quo, to protect my kingdom and its trappings,
I offer this payoff, this bribe, this gratuity.

And we both feel smug having loss something of ourselves
to gain the advantage during this fleeting moment. Thus we have
played the game developed so well through the years.

But more frightful yet is that we would play it with God.