Will Karry Poet I do not know?

A Bum of a Man

Don’t walk on the grass, no sleeping on the bench 
Well if this don’t throw in that old monkey wrench 
What was it bothering? Since no one else was here 
Just old Hank and his stogie and his warm bottle of beer 
Just fresh from the hall where he dined on that meal 
Rice and gravy and a slice of what they called veal 
But it’s free for the taking and pickings are slim 
And to tell you the truth, it wasn’t bothering him 
Well he looked left and right and set down for a rest 
As he lit up a stogie and blew out a smoky breath 
He sipped from the bottle and lay back his tired head 
Then rolled up his jacket and then went to bed
Soon a uniformed officer was tapping with his stick 
Said, don’t even think of pulling any of your tricks 
He was hauled off to a site down off Third and Green 
And thrown in the alley that cleanliness had never seen 
The stench and noise kept him awake and alert 
One never knew what to expect in this filth and dirt  
Just as on cue, those hoodlums all arrived 
As old Hank wondered to himself would he come out alive? 
Just then a paddy wagon screeched to a halt real fast 
As the hoodlums night didn’t have long to last 
They also grabbed old Hank and threw him in the bus 
Right next to an old con by the name of Handy Gus  
A night in the slammer, fighting was their plea 
As old Hank just shook his head and said “how can this be?” 
Then just before breakfast, they set him free once again 
As it’s back on the streets right where yesterday began 
Was it his clothing or was it his beard? He really didn’t know 
Whatever it was, they again ordered him out in the cold 
Maybe it was his clothes, they were all ragged and torn 
But if memory serves me correctly all roses do have thorns  
He thought of the old days when Uncle Sam came to call 
He joined to fight the japs although he was small 
And this is his reward, boy ain’t life just grand 
Go off to war and fight but now you’re just a bum of a man

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