ODE TO HOCKER WILLIAMS

THIS IS AN ODE TO HOCKER WILLIAMS

WHO COULD THWAP EM BY THE BILLIONS

OLD HOCKER WILLIAMS

DOWN AT THE A & P NEAR THE TRACKS

ON A WINTER DAY SO DOGON COLD

HE COULD CONJUR ONE UP ALL GREEN AND TACKY

AND SHOOT IT THROUGH HIS TONGUE

ALL CURLED AND ROLLED

FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDOW

TO THE SIDEWALK BELOW

STREAMED THE ESSENCE OF HIS BEING

FROM AN OUTSTANDING BLOW

WHEN THE GANG GATHERED AROUND

IN WONDERMENT

IT DISCUSTED US ALL

HIS HOCKER WELL SPENT

OLD HOCKER WILLIAMS, WE WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM

A BRIGHT SHINING STAR ON DAYS SO GRIM

BY BLAZING AWAY WITH HIS SPUTEM RESERVE

SOMETIMES AN ARC

SOMETIMES A CURVE

HE MADE THE DAY WITH SPECTACULAR SHOTS

THIS VISION SURE HAS KINDLED SOME THOUGHTS

OLD HOCK WAS THAT ONE OF A KIND

WHERE IS HE NOW

PROBABLY HOMELESS AND UGLY

ALO DUMB AND BLIND

OLD HOCKER WILLIAMS

C. K. ROSHONG CIRCA 1991