Skates Poem by jackilton peachum

(1952)
After L.A. Times

Buster,
handsome skating rooster,
you were in my dreams last night
-bird for the ages-plumage of an angel!
But where did you go?
Disappeared in your own lifetime-
ahhh, fame, how brief an hour!

I see you dancing between a little girl's feet,
cutting skate-marks in ice
or rolling across rink floors,
-ice-skates, roller-skates, all the same to Buster-
grace and confidence of a born showman,
timing to music, poultry-proud performer!
Ahhh, fame, how brief an hour!

We're thinking of you now in a land far away,
dreaming of sunny California long ago-
and you, tall, head-up, feathered chest out, taking it all in-
balancing, one foot to other, making it look easy
better'n any of ‘em on your shiny custom-skates,
in your new overalls!
Ahhh, fame, how brief an hour!

Were you clucking contented when you made a final strut,
steely-eyed, gliding across the ice to glory,
preening, talons ready for the rink,
showing your stuff, your feathers
- skating away from the stew-pot, the chicken sandwich-
skating into rooster history with beak raised!
Ahhh, Buster, fame-how brief an hour!