On the Waterfront
The Stench of Greed
By: Charles Giuliano - Oct 20, 2018
On the Waterfront
Along the waterfront
Once busy docks
Near Lane’s granite home
Hill above the harbor
From which he
Hobbled to the sea
By dory then schooner
Up and down the coast
An ancient mariner
Days of Kipling’s
Captains Courageous
Off the Grand Banks
When I was young
Taking a bus
Near the church
From Annisquam
WASPY cul de sac
One world to another
For cost of fare
Just a quarter
To see a movie
Funky Strand or North Shore
Other ends of Main Street
Mom and pop shops
Crested at top
By Brown’s Department Store
Long before malls
Cast their grim pall
Trawlers docking
Loaded with cod
Flocks of gawking gulls
Stench of fish guts
Smell of Gloucester
Foul and funky
Toilers of the sea
Sailors and lumpers
Blowing their pay
End of raucous day
Beer and brawls
Rough bars by the sea
Tales of perfect storms
Names listed on
Fishermen’s memorial
Captain at the wheel
Looking out to sea
Now tranquil harbor
Strangely sweet scented
Swill odor of money
Sloshing in slurry
Stinking of greed
Lousy landlubbers
Always in a hurry
The almighty dollar
Buying up dreams
Rotting like wharves
Where one fears to tread
Going out of my head
Over you dear Olson
Poet of the past
Faded way too fast
Along the waterfront
Where no weathered men
Now mend the nets
Stitching up
Raveled sleeves of care