Crazy Mick

Crazy Mick the Irishman, with trademark bike and overcoat,
wheeling his way back into town, classed as a tarnished silly goat.
His hair was long and curly; spoken words barely understood.
His manner gave impression he's up to no flamin’ good.

Shopkeepers grew an extra eye toward their advertised outside,
watching Mick out on the street as up and down he'd ride.
This man was on outcast; different to the folks they know,
a little dirty; is a vagrant, and he acts a little slow.

Mick’s first stop the butchers shop; bargained for a ‘snag’ or two.
The butcher he felt pity, so threw in an extra few.
This pleased Mick no end as he left the butchers door.
His feast was quick and final; ate the meat been given raw.

The pub through past experience had little time for Mick,
for beer became his nemesis; urged forward his fighting trick.
Too many times Mick’s antics had forced him to the street,
with bloodied nose, blackened eye; always getting beat.

Compromising was the bottle sale - take half a dozen and then go.
Sit over by the railway line and then drink them nice and slow.
Young kids without feelings teased Mick in his toxic state,
laughing as he chased them, for he'd stagger and gyrate.

When Mick disappeared, our town wondered where he went.
Had he found a home! Had he died! Where has his time been spent!
It seems in potato season when the pickers were required,
Mick was slogging in the paddocks where potato tops had died.

The 'swampy' people honoured Mick, for he had no fear of sweat.
He'd bend his back the furthest; earnt the spud farmer’s respect.
They saw a different person than the townie’s man un-trusted.
Hard working in the hot sun; not the drunk so often busted.

Mick perished one cold winter, alone inside a pickers shack.
Long after picking season ended, so what had brought him back?
He must have known his life was ebbing; left for where he felt no shame.
Spud farmers heads bowed 'round his grave - but not one townie came.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

James Avatar
October 23, 2020 at 1:31 PM
A very sad tale indeed, how quick people judge. So glad he had people around him that understood him better. May he rest in peace. Emilia
Laurie Avatar
October 26, 2020 at 3:13 PM
Hello Emilia ... thank you Emilia. Because I live in an area where manual labour was needed to gather vegetables there was quite a number of 'Crazy Mick's'. The growers were very understanding of their plight - catch you soon Emilia - Lindsay
Shaw Avatar
August 27, 2020 at 11:14 AM
A sad tale, Lindsay, but; often true for many a person with mental illness, yes, he will have returned to what was a place of sanctuary to him, a place where his spirit would have been free to roam in peace, stuff those townies folk . . .
Laurie Avatar
August 31, 2020 at 6:43 PM
Hello Indiana ... there were a number of these 'Crazy Micks' in the potato fields who were supported by the farmers who understood them so were trusted, but of course rural and urban are two different cultures - thank you Indiana - Lindsay
Ball Avatar
August 4, 2020 at 1:28 PM
Oh now Lindsay you made me cry with this one. Poor guy had no one and died alone. At least he knew where to go to be sure he would be buried with respect. A fine write my friend but it's a heart tugger. God Bless, JB
Laurie Avatar
August 11, 2020 at 9:46 PM
Hello Judy ... Mick had mental issues but in those times he was classed as mad. Everybody in the district knew him and many believed he was crazy, but not the potato people. They looked after him until the end - thank you Judy - Lindsay
Dietrich Avatar
August 2, 2020 at 3:02 PM
so sad the townsfolk did not go to the man's burial but I like how you put the potato farmers in there honoring him.
Dietrich Avatar
August 2, 2020 at 3:01 PM
I wonder if this could be a true story. As usual, you wove it magificently! Thanks for your comment on my sonnet tale of infant destruction!
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 8:09 PM
Hello Andrea ... oh yes; this is absolutely true. Mick was different and I've never forgot him. My comment about your sonnets I felt I had to write. Your sonnet writing amazes me Andrea - Lindsay
Canerdy Avatar
July 30, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Lindsay, this is a narrative masterpiece. Your moving story is skillfully told! So glad he was appreciated before he died. Janice
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Hello Janice ... thank you for you wonderful encouraging comment Janice. Some of the people involved in the potato gathering only knew of the hotel when in towns. It was very hard work indeed that required a special breed of person - Lindsay
Wolf Avatar
July 25, 2020 at 10:06 PM
You know, you really got me identifying with that Mick by the end. A masterful piece of narrative, Lindsay, and a FAVE! Thanks for the treat of reading it! :) Gershon
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 8:01 PM
Hello Gershon ... thank you once again Gershon. Writing about real people in real situations I believe is necessary as in time, in reality, is completely forgotten. I'm pleased you enjoyed this tale on Mick Gershon - Lindsay
Leffanta Avatar
July 25, 2020 at 3:46 PM
It is difficult for many people to understand how other people can be satisfied with their lifestyle! Aloha! Rico
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 7:31 PM
Hello Rico ... your comment is spot on, and also suggests the reason why wars happen. Standing outside the fire can be dangerous at times - thank you Rico - Lindsay
Hinshaw Avatar
July 25, 2020 at 8:51 AM
Another classic from your versatile pen, Lindsay! Always a great story for us to enjoy. Glad you liked the Fort Laramie write. I have visited there and many of the old cavalry frontier forts up thru Wyoming. Love the old west and its history. G'day on ye, Mate - Bob
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 7:28 PM
Hello Bob ... I enjoin all your cowboy ballads using cowboy speak Bob. They're great. I'm pleased you enjoyed this tale of Mick from the Koo-Wee-Rup swamp country - thanks Bob - Lindsay
Proxenos Avatar
July 25, 2020 at 8:47 AM
Good for the spud-farmers sorry no townies came, but I guess they felt no connection to poor old Mick. However your poem depicts a sad character who came and went and survived on what little he could find or was given. Great write Lindsay. Blessings, Jennifer.
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 7:24 PM
G'day Jennifer ... these fellows were not trusted in towns and or else judged as gypsies but apart from getting drunk did no harm if left home. Farmers understood them and gave respect - thank you Jennifer - Lindsay
Cunningham Avatar
July 25, 2020 at 4:05 AM
A sorry tale of old Mick, at least the spud farmers gave him a good send off Tom
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 7:20 PM
G'day Tom ... it was a different time when Mick was alive and I was young. The spud farmers gave these blokes a little bit of help, and they were really rural drifters who went from town to farms and back to towns - thank you Tom - Lindsay
Ermine Avatar
July 24, 2020 at 9:39 PM
Beaut bush poetry. Very applicable to current times. True, alcohol abuse shatters connections. Thanks for crafting this tale, Lindsay.
Laurie Avatar
August 3, 2020 at 7:15 PM
Hello Sigrid ... thank you Sigrid for your encouraging comment - Lindsay
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace