26. The Hangman at Home

WHAT does the hangman think about

When he goes home at night from work?

When he sits down with his wife and

Children for a cup of coffee and a

Plate of ham and eggs, do they ask

Him if it was a good day’s work

And everything went well or do they

Stay off some topics and talk about

The weather, base ball, politics

And the comic strips in the papers

And the movies? Do they look at his

Hands when he reaches for the coffee

Or the ham and eggs? If the little

Ones say, Daddy, play horse, here’s

A rope—does he answer like a joke:

I seen enough rope for today?

Or does his face light up like a

Bonfire of joy and does he say:

It’s a good and dandy world we live

In. And if a white face moon looks

In through a window where a baby girl

Sleeps and the moon gleams mix with

Baby ears and baby hair—the hangman—

How does he act then? It must be easy

For him. Anything is easy for a hangman,

I guess.