Becker Park

Your kids are here in Becker Park
as the sun is going down,
with cash stuffed in their pockets,
the candy man's in town.

There are drugs to buy in Becker Park,
a pill for every need.
There's coke and crank for connoisseurs,
and always lots of weed.

He sells dreams in Becker Park
for nickels and for dimes,
the kids show up at sundown
to see what they can find.

The ones who come to Becker Park
live life without a clue,
ignorant of the ways of drugs
and what an overdose can do.

They live their lives in Becker Park,
the writing's on the wall,
but they never get much wiser
till the undertaker calls.

My boy went down to Becker Park,
this sadly I confide.
I never will forget the night
they told me that he died.

But they still come to Becker Park
when the candy man is there,
he may lose a kid or two
but hell, he doesn't care.

Someday I'll go to Becker Park
as the sun is going down,
and when I've found the candy man
I'll put him in the ground.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Wolf Avatar
December 3, 2022 at 7:23 PM
Looking around, saw this one (again), and was even more taken with its biting realism and honesty. Now a FAVE for me. Thanks, John!
Summers Avatar
December 5, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Sorry to miss this. Repeat business is the best there is. Thanks. John
Ball Avatar
April 4, 2021 at 10:47 PM
What a sad write this is my friend. I cannot imagine your pain but my husband's brother lost one of his sons that way. It totally destroyed his wife and he had a hard time with too. I don't think they ever got over it. God Bless my friend, JB
Summers Avatar
April 4, 2021 at 11:03 PM
Sorry Judy, drugs were sold there but the ending is a little fabricated for storytelling purposes. But, thanks for reading. Now if you want realism please read The Sound Of Thunder. That one is true. John
Wolf Avatar
March 31, 2021 at 7:54 PM
A real gut-wrencher, John. Just love the ending... Don't wait too long to take action now. The sooner, the better.
Summers Avatar
April 1, 2021 at 7:40 AM
Thanks for reading Gershon. Glad to see you back. John
Gauthier Avatar
March 31, 2021 at 8:29 AM
OMG ~ added to my FAVEs What A chilling write. Awesome twists ~ gutwrenching. You're an awesome poet ~
Summers Avatar
March 31, 2021 at 2:33 PM
Thanks so much Line, your comments are appreciated. John
Pettit Avatar
March 31, 2021 at 6:12 AM
This write reminded me a bit of "The Pusher" by Steppenwolf. Great descriptiveness and rhyming here.
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