Life's Work

[good4somethingbum]

Life's WorkWhen ol' man Smith fin'lly opened his doorI saw Spaghetti Os and a plastic sporkand sauce spatters on his holey long johnshis St. Bernard lay by his kitchen chairhe'd been watchin' Smith lose at solitairewhile sittin' quiet with his police scanner onthe force made him retire at fifty-eightgave him a cheap watch and cheaper cakeso he listened to those calls come ina stranger in his own skincos his life's work was helpin' those in needhe'd spent almost thirty years walkin' the beatand he'd never forget, helping blind vetscross busy streetstakin' guns from kids 'fore they got hurtcos his job wasn't just a badge on his shirthe'd never have quit, cos all he didwas his life's workhe brewed some Yuban and and poured me someI could tell he didn't know why I'd comecos it was days till his rent was dueI said I heard from the gal in 25how she was grateful he saved her lifewhen he chased those punks from the laundry roomhe was the only one who seemed to carewhen he helped Miss Patty up the stairshe just blushed through his whiskerssmiled and said, "Mistermy life's work was helpin' those in needI spent over twenty years walkin' the beatand I'll never forget, helping blind vetscross busy streetsor takin' guns from kids 'fore they got hurtcos my job wasn't just a badge on my shirtI'd never have quit, cos all I didwas my life's work"then I said he could live there rent freeif he worked part time for methough that doorman's cap n coat were kinda wornhe loved bein' back in uniformcos his life's work was helpin' those in needhis life's work was helpin' those in need...(c)2007 Robert George