Stocks Down - Investors Frown

For all of you who buy into the idea that one invests in "stocks for the long run" but think it means you should invest "only in stocks for the long run":

As stocks go down these first few days

of twenty and sixteen

Each person who invests in stocks

hath burst a heart and spleen.


"Oh how could our stocks fall so hard

first thing of the New Year

And cause us all to fret and sweat

and shed a sorry tear?


The experts said that stocks were best

no matter time or place."

In theory this makes perfect sense

but there's no smiley face

for those who thought that stocks would be

the key to future wealth,

providing riches for a life

of happiness and health.


"But what's this that we now behold

with this New Year collapse?

Could stocks be heading down until

the bugler plays us taps?"


Calm down you fool, don't lose your cool

stocks always wind up up

Of course it could be forty years

before you drink the cup

of dividends and gains in stocks

which come in copious reams,

providing life on easy street

that comes from pleasant dreams

fed by the Wall Street sales machine

with promise guaranteed

for any sucker wise or fool

who buys into their creed,

without a thought that maybe there's

conflicted interest

betwixt the salesman's promises

and what for you is best.


So people wake up now and see

the writing's on the wall

2016 may just be

a year that you'll recall

in future years when your grand kids

ask if you think it best

that they should buy just stocks alone

with money they invest.