WILLIE SPECKLED HEN

A POEM by: Fernando de mello Pimentel

I wake up every afternoon around 5 pm,
not really knowing who I am
Those night-shifts at the blue river dam,
with just cold coffee and canned spam,
were never part of my original plan

I used to be West High's wrestling champ
Can you believe I was once their main Man,
distributing autographs to all those euphoric fans?
But this took place way-way back then

Today, I get by thanks to my buddy Stan
He got me the roadie job for his grass-roots band
With the extra cash, I'll get my own liquor stand
It'll be a bargain. Maybe two or three grand

Perhaps then I'll win the heart of my gal Fran
She never really thought much of this poor man
Oh my sweet Lord! Here I go again
Throwing myself once more into the garbage can

When will I quit this nuisance and make a stand?
I don't have to put up with modest, cheap brands
or live off charity or even government amends
And I'm no bum or underdog either, ma friend

So listen to me carefully, you foolish old men
I'm a countryman. From the mountains I descend.
And I won't lower my head or obey your demands
For I am the Great Willie Speckled Hen
Will I have to repeat it, or do you comprehend?

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

CATERPILLAR

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Caterpillar
Here's your three pillars:
light, puff and pass

Caterpillar
Your silky epidermis
holds good grass

Caterpillar
You've given us some hits
for mind emancipation

Caterpillar
We've been here waiting
for your transformation

Caterpillar
Instead, you've given us wings
so that we can fly

Caterpillar
Who's this moth?
Where's my butterfly?

Caterpillar
What a great sensation
You’re a real thriller

Caterpillar
I was skeptical at first
Now I’m a believer!

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

JOHNNY

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Johnny was a young man
who had to wear olive green
Johnny was an innocent fool
who joined a killing machine

Johnny was a faithful servant
who prayed so he could dream
Johnny was an empty pocket
who was bred to be mean

Johnny was a bad shot
who had to keep his rifle clean
Johnny was a thirsty troop
who drank from a rusty canteen

Johnny was the lowest rank
who had to clean filthy latrines
Johnny was always the one under the sun
who wore no U.V. sunscreen

Johnny was a pot-head
who knew he could never be clean
Johnny was the first grunt
who was ambushed by Ho Chi Minh

Johnny was one complete mess
who had his gut torn and no spleen
Johnny was just another casualty of war
who didn’t make it past eighteen

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.

GREEN BENJAMINS

A POEM by: Fernando de Mello Pimentel

Once a powerful multi-billionaire
Now, just a holder of worthless shares
at a unit price of less than a dime
Blame it all on those lousy 'sub-prime'

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae,
once the hottest couple in Wall Street,
have seen nearly all their value fade away
in a major overnight capitalist defeat

Don't worry, it's just business as usual
with thousands of homeless families
having no cash for mortgage or fuel
What's next? Empty bellies?

Nevermind, cause at the end of the day
all we want is to be part of "The Dream"
with a little speculation and a bit of foul play
just to get our hands on those Green Benjamins!

However, let us not forget a historical date
Cause what happened back in '29
Might well happen again in 2008
Will this be Capitalism's tragic fate?

All Rights Reserved - 2008 FPimentel Poems & Publishing Co.