The West Side

The West Side

The day watch sleeps
The wind whistles through the silence
The street alleys weep
In their bounty of violence

Through the shiftless night
Thieves work the west side
Unconcerned by wrong or right
By thieves' honor they abide

It's a living for a kid with no skills
But those of his quick mind and hands
And who knows he needs to work
Only to satisfy his own demands

The west side is calling
It's a live-by-night place
The work is appalling
But what do you expect?
         from a job with no face

18 Sep 90