Alley Violinist

by Robert Lax

if you were an ally violinist

and they threw you money
from three windows

and the first note contained
a nickle and said:
when you play, we dance and
sing, signed
a very poor family

and the second one contained
a dime and said:
I like your playing very much,
signed
a sick old lady

and the last one contained
a dollar and said:
beat it,

would you:
stand there and play?

beat it?

walk away playing your fiddle?