When the living are dead never let it be said that a line wasn't thrown

suddenly we're grown up and the gripe water didn't help
so we helped ourselves from the cookie jar

and how far did that get us?

Retribution
comes with a vengeance
comes at a premium rate


I called
several times
but
each time too late
and I am one
of them,

in the doss house where men become them men

living but dead men
hung out to dry men
the four penny line men


shorn of hair
shorn of dignity
and the wonder why
****'s
got it in for me
men

I went under,
the line went
over my head

but I understood.

In this fat chance society
which is so far ahead of me
I had no chances in front
of me and nothing behind
or beside me
to lean on.