38 2014 Program Notes, Book 10
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
woman)
and Carlo, who was five.
He must be still alive!
Ah, poor Marco had the syph, and if
you didn’t take the terrible cure those days
you went crazy and died and he did.
And at the coffin before they closed the lid,
who raised his lid? Black Max.
I was climbing on the train
one day going far away
to the good old U.S.A.
when I heard some music
underneath the tracks.
Standing there beneath the bridge,
long black jacket, broad black hat,
playing the harmonica, one hand free
to lift that hat to me: Black Max, Black Max,
Black Max.
Amor
It wasn’t the policeman’s fault, in all the traffic roar,
Instead of shouting, “Halt!” when he saw me, he shouted
“Amor! Amor! Amor!”
Even the ice-cream man (free ice creams by the score)
Instead of shouting “Butter Pecan!” one look at me he shouted
“Amor! Amor! Amor!”
All over town it went that way. Everybody took off the day.
Even philosphers understood how good was the good,
‘Cuz I looked so good!
The poor stopped taking less, the rich stopped needing more.
Instead of shouting “No!” and “Yes!” both looking at me shouted
“Amor!”
My stay in town was cut short, I was dragged to court.
The judge said I disturbed the peace and the jury
Gave him what for!!
The judge raised his hand and instead of “Desist and cease!”
Judgie came to the stand, took my hand and whispered
“Amor! Amor! Amor! Amor!”
Night was turning into day, I walked alone away;
Never see that town again, but as I passed the church house door,
Instead of singing “Amen!” the choir was singing
“Amor! Amor! Amor! Amor!”
Toothbrush Time
It’s toothbrush time,
Ten a.m. again and toothbrush time.
Last night at half past nine it seemed O.K.
But in the light of day not so fine at toothbrush time.
Now he’s crashing round my bathroom,
Now he’s reading my degree,
Perusing all my pills,
Reviewing all my ills,
And he comes out smelling like me.
Now he advances on my kitchen,
Now he raids every shelf
Till from the pots and pans and puddles and debris
Emerges three eggs all for himself.
Oh, how I’d be ahead if I’d stood out of bed;
I wouldn’t sit here grieving
Waiting for the wonderful moment of his leaving.
At toothbrush time, toothbrush time,
