River Rat

He lived beside the river in a one-room shack,

Sandy-haired and freckled totin’ a gunnysack.

He wore a ragged shirt and had a dirty face,

The lack of opportunity kept him in his place.

Sat idly by the river, skippin’ rocks all day,

Wonderin’ if his fortune would ever come his way.

The river rolled on by as he pondered why.

And looked up to the sky and gave a mournful sigh.

There’s nuthin’ here for him, his life was purdy grim,

He might just take a swim, or climb out on a limb.

One day he left at dawn, to Boston he had gone,

It wasn’t just a con, he’d run the Marathon.

From the stories he did tell, he musta’ done quite well,

Did one thing to excel, had nuthin’ to dispel.

The river town was proud, and cheered for him real loud,

Some money was endowed, for the goal he had avowed.

They listened to his plea and sent him off to college,

To a place called NMC, he went to get some knowledge,

Pretty soon he’d be a big man on the campus,

And everyone was wowed by his awesomeness.

Soonhe he was a hit with all the college gals,

Took away the girlfriend of one of my best pals.

He mighta’ turned out well, ain’t heard nuthin’ in a spell.

Some thought he would excel, but it’s hard to tell.

I don’t know where he’s at, or where he hangs his hat,

I hope he is a diplomat, or maybe just a River Rat.

LDT March 2, ’24