Janice And Al Capone 1956 Poem by Terry Collett

Janice said
the man along
the balcony
from her gran's flat
had cut his throat
and the ambulance men
came and wrapped him
in bandages
and took him away
on a stretcher.

She said
it was horrible
blood soaking through
the bandages
his mother
walking beside
the stretcher
bemoaning him.

We were sitting
on the grass
in front
of Banks House.

I was cleaning
my silver looking
toy 6 shooter
with a handkerchief
from my blue jeans' pocket.

Why'd he cut
his throat?
I said.

Janice said
she didn't know
but that his mother
was moaning at him
as the ambulance men
were taking him off.

Some guy
on our balcony
did that a while ago
I said
think he was in debt
with a bookies runner.

A bookies runner?
she said
what's that?

He puts bets
on for you
I said
so my old man says.

She looked at me
it looked horrible
all that blood.

Guess it did
the guy on our balcony
had a scar after
made him look
like Al Capone
I said
aiming my gun
at the sky
at a flying pigeon
and going
KAPOW.

Who is Al Capone?
she said
does he live
on your balcony?

I smiled
no he moved out
a while ago
I said
not mentioning
he was a gangster
in the USA
and was dead.