On The Waterfront Poem by Dee Snuts

By the waterfront is where it started
Lunch in hand, ticket in the other
Fighting just for one day’s work
While the river flows without a care
I could’ve been like that

Joey died two days ago, cops say he fell
But he was pushed, I would know
I had sent him up there
His sister wept and wept
I could’ve comforted her

She says she wants the town reformed
And the priest has joined her
They say heaven has no place for liars and cowards
Their work won’t make a difference, and yet
I could’ve helped more

My pigeons are my closest friends
We don’t argue and they don’t judge
I feed them, and they give me company
Two more of my pigeons have mated for life
I could’ve found a woman

Friendly is his name
But he’s anything but
He runs this town and everyone in it
He killed Edie’s brother
I could’ve saved mine

Charlie was my brother
He had a brain and intelligence
But wasted it on placing bets
He gambled my career away
I could’ve been a contender

Now he’s gone
Killed in that Friendly way
Edie and I are next
I will avenge my brother
I could keep us safe

Edie is beautiful
She was cute when she was younger too
Her current strength gives me what I need
The braids in her hair looked like rope
I could climb into her heart

The town is against me
But I have to go to the trial
The have to tell the truth
I have to give this town the confidence it needs
I could save us all

The verdict came out
Friendly is out for my blood
The town wants it too
This is my home, but now I’m alone
I could run away

The thoughts of Edie, Charlie, and Joey change me
I need to avenge the boys
And rescue my girl
Friendly knocked me to the ground
I could get back up

My defiance has made a statement
The town admires who they see
They’re no longer scared of anything
The gang has lost
I could- I did make a difference

I could’ve had class
I could’ve been a contender
I could’ve been somebody
And now I was
By the waterfront is where it ended