I’m certainly in no mood for laughter today;
the sky is pitch-black.
Even the clamorous newsboy has lost his voice.
Time tries in vain to defy Fate.
An old asphalt worker heads off for a beer,
while the young woman in the window opposite
casually slips off her blouse.
I hope she doesn't think I'm a voyeur.
Irish accents quake my female southland.
Males 'neath Newsboy Caps stimulate dreamland.
Irish yearns may want touch,
Did not seek to feel such.
Ireland trips could stimulate mate's backhand.
The wife saw it all in a dream
The milkman delivered fresh cream
The postman came first
(She thought he would burst)
The newsboy fit her colour scheme
In an hour a thousand pass
Doctors, lawyers, truck drivers
Small and fat,
A straggly cat.
Six ladies in elegant furs
Two little boys chasing curs
A tottery, old man with a cane
The same scraggly cat again.
The local newsboy laden down
Big and small,
A runaway ball,
The corner cop awaiting the strike
Five o'clock, the rush hour jam
Wondering who I am
What I'm doing--
They start their jobs at age so young
And bring the news as they are stung
But one would think who would employ
A rich, affluent paperboy?
And such a sight means prejudice
It makes the crowd incredulous
"You shouldn't flaunt and be more coy,
How did your ma raise such a boy?"
For the boy's kin is of great wealth
And so is his insuranced health
Instead of news he should deploy
A money chance for another boy.
He's pride-possessed; it comes from cash
Because he works with news to dash
However that's what brings him joy;
The reason why he's a newsboy.
Carved from pine
Rugged, but divine
Timeless
Even-though from an earlier time
Resolute face
Weathered and without grace
Red and blushed
Sunburned or whiskey flushed?
Long coat open and flowing
Every work inspired wrinkle is showing
Brown and down to knees
For a harbor town man, if you please.
Hands in pocket of baggy pants
Taking a job well done stance
Red sweater takes away the chill
Insulation to keep from getting ill
Upon his head lies newsboy style cap of blue
While he peers at his town’s ocean view
He will not walk away
A harbor town man he’ll stay
By: Richard J. Long
February, 2012
Jennifer Lee
Was a flower girl in her young age
When her parents still loved each other
Or rather they were just better at pretending
She wore a blue dress and a buck-toothed smile
And today
She wears a newsboy cap and a cigarette
She works hard for nothing
And blames her father
Who she desperately despises
So, her life consists of ersatz energy and nicotine
While she is so far away from her juvenile days
She is not dressed in blue
And her front teeth fit inside of her surly lips
But the imprint of flowers she dealt
Is forever burned into her golden skin
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