It's All True

On one of those old black-and-whites 
with Orson "Spendthrift" Welles on board, 
and many memos lying ignored, 
the studio's money men took fright. 

They brought in Stephen "hard man" Fier 
to get the budget back in line. 
If Orson begged a ball of twine, 
he found his invoice scrutineered. 

There's no incentive quite like hate. 
One night, when craftsmen downed their tools 
And wraps were safely wrapped in spools 
the great director lingered late, 

took brush and paint pot from the shelf 
and daubed across one vast white wall, 
"We've nothing here to fear at all - 
except, that is, for Fier himself." 

We never hear our own death knells. 
Next day, the words were rubbed out, all. 
Someone, in letters six feet tall, 
had put, "All's Well that Ends Welles".
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

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

White Avatar
February 19, 2017 at 6:45 AM
Hah! That last line is awesome... For the rest I think I am too young, because I have no idea what it is about, and Google didn't exactly help me :)
White Avatar
February 19, 2017 at 9:14 AM
Thank you :)
Coy Avatar
February 19, 2017 at 8:09 AM
Oh, sorry. Welles was a genius, but careless with the studio's money. FD Roosevelt, talking about the Depression, said We have nothing to fear but fear itself.
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