by Julia Griffin

“A small-scale miner in Tanzania has become an overnight millionaire after selling two rough Tanzanite stones—
the biggest ever find in the country. … ‘There will be a big party tomorrow,’ [Saniniu] Laizer… told the BBC.
‘I want to build a shopping mall and a school. I want to build this school near my home.
There are many poor people around here who can’t afford to take their children to school’ [he said.]
‘I am not educated but I like things run in a professional way. So I would like my children to run
the business professionally.’”—BBC 

In these harsh days, let’s welcome with delight
The birth of this fantastic tanzanite,
A banker’s haul delivered from the earth.
The papers marvel at how much it’s worth:
About two-thirds what EXXON Mobil spent
On lobbying the nation’s government;
Sixteen percent (or not that much below)
The yearly pay of FOX’s CEO.
But these are Tanzanian gems, and here
Most earn (in dollars) just 4K per year,
And he who found them surely made no more;
But this is what he’ll use his money for:
Provisions for his neighbors, and a school.
“Not educated”? Sure, but ah! no fool.