Blue Until Black

Boy grew up quick
In a home without warmth
Memories of a mother he never met
A gypsy lady long drowned

His father remained
Half alive from the Great War
So he turned to liquor to kill the ones
That haunted his bedroom

The mines gave life
But stole everything in return
So many coughing up what kills them
Black lung laughing along

The boy went without
His clothes hanging onto ribs
Blacked up from his father’s warning
The boot is love as they say

One day he said enough
Took a rod and struck back finally
His defiance coated the floor
The fists laid out cold

The boy took the change
His father’s boots and service pistol
Disappeared in the driving rain
Wearing clothes too big

He held up a couple
Took their money and lives
Once fifteen the boy is now grown
His heart cold like armor

The depression in full swing
The man swindled his way to Chicago
Ran into men with dark intentions
A mob hand he did become

There he met a woman
With markings around her eyes
She sold dresses and marched reform
Pulls the trigger for herself

A pounding in his head
She says this and laughs at that
He asked will you marry me
She smiles and nods

Now he has a little home
Nice suits and cars right outside
His bride don’t question the late nights
Or lawman that hassles him

Their child don’t mind
The man drinks old thoughts
Bruised knuckles look like his father’s
Amused, he flexes them