Good times and bum times, I've seen them all, I‘m still here.
Fine filet sometimes, sometimes slim Jim‘s and beer,
but I'm here.
Dined with both haughty class and with naughty trash,
Was born in Brooklyn shortly after the Crash.
________________
When dad met his last licks, I was but six. It was drear.
No dad yet placed us in a fix, foreclosure was near.
This time played funny tricks, it left me without fear.
Though I‘ve suffered slings daily.., (read these muse),
Strummed off keyed ukuleles, sung the blues,
Seen all my dreams disappear…, I'm still here.
As tiny tot sold all the top magazines
But needing more money, soon found other means;
Pruned produce mornings, made vegetables gleam,
Broomed filthy flats, sat baby brats and lost no esteem.
Worked as a pin boy, worked in a grocery store,
Scaled fish in A Ms, as they came in from the shore,
Scaling at bay made delivery boy play, but oi veh,
Only two bucks and tips was the pay for all day.
Then came the second world war, my siblings all left.
Sister Anne beckoned by Nurse Corps left me bereft.
 
Big brother’s attraction was joining the action, all three.
Ted was shot dead, Dick purple hearted, Frank torpedoed at sea.
  I much too young then had to stay home, boo hoo shed a tear
In a house with eight cats just my mommy and me, but I’m here.
Mother played pre-school piano, school with high admission.
Hardly her desired ambition but I went shy of tuition.
Their pre-school was huge, their grade school was lean
In a mansion across from the Children’s Museum.
Our teachers, all British, were more than OK
Though labour I still ’bout my spelling today.
My class, small happy valley, was easy to tally.
Four guys quite pal-ly, plus a tease-y named Sally
Small classes, good teachers work wonders it seems,
We all learned so quickly were ahead of the teens.
Astronomy trigonometry at age nine, truly fine,
No homework till college made high school sublime.

Private Kindergarten/Grade School - Brooklyn Manhattan Brownstone Broom Closet
Our house sold fin’lly, mother’s rental was ‘ick‘.
I lived with brothers, first Frank, later Dick;
Her closet room prank from sick janitor prick.
But she, being nimble, found a plan that was slick.
From two different stores, grand piano did she pick.
Both came without flaws as she’d planned. What a trick !
Proved her room much too small to be concert hall.
There was no room at all for claviers to install.
Deed decreed she not sane at all, doctors all say,
This bit of logic was why they put her away.
When able I saw her. It took the whole day,
Train for two hours both way..…, plus the stay.
School was over at noon. At fifteen I rented a room;
Felt I adult, free of womb, to manhood early I’d zoom,
Dropt out of high school, found that it bored.
Option ‘dopted by fool, without it few scored
Then to work menial got poured with tout fit for betterment floored
……., it can’t be ignored.
Wanted to see a car built from beginning to end.
Hitchhiked to Detroit, found work I could tend.
Work not too adroit, I filled holes with a bolt.
Not much point holes anointing like dolt,
Troll’s work not fit for a fella with wit, not a bit
So I fin’lly up and said, “shit”… and I quit.
  In the meantime came a lean time,
No money‘s no dream time.
In missions, slept I with the best,
Showered and shaved and ate with the rest.
With all this depression was I depressed, nowhere near,
I met a wealthy old widow and I’m here.
Fin’lly found work in resort, Connecticut brought cheer.
Dish washing earned my support and I’m here.
Next Fall went to night school, learned no diploma obscene.
My first full time job was bank teller, at age of sixteen.
  Next Spring went back to resort, first bank job I quit.
Small bring it brought. Tennis brought more, quite a bit.
Played doubles with owner, he’d bet guests and we’d split.
My pro sponsor donor one of his quests, he thought I ‘it‘.
 Worked there in vacation, in Fall school at night,
Was life guard sensation, washed dirty cars bright,
Dug ditches, stained houses, played semi-pro sports
Sought riches some how-ses, did work of all sorts.
The odd jobs were fun but teller a better one.
School money aids came, hip, hip, hurray !
By grades sunny the pay, I averaged an “A”.
Would’ve graduated accountant had I had my say
But drafted by fluke joined the Korean fray.
  My tennis made me ”jock strap”, I was taught IBM,
Was stationed Chicago, off post living, its gem
Sang evenings as bartender, drove taxi cab both.
Played roles in four plays, never given to sloth.
My basic mates flown to Korea, ’cept one all were dead.
Met “one” must‘ring out and that’s what he said.
  
Was going with old girl, met young girl, got hooked;
Found trip home to mother soon had to be booked.
For this girl only one, her father, Prince Charming
So assumed I a new role rather disarming.
He’d been a dentist who’d won great renown
I decided to be one lest my marriage should drown.
Worked full time on the way, craving its costs to pay.
Sold Tupperware as you may, giving home parties gay.Drove a bus after school, worked IBM in the nighttime
Sang as bartender cool, singing always delight time.

I opened a practice in a great little town,
Started a play group thought Broadway bound.
Soon became pres’dent, Rotary‘s, PTA‘s.
This was a faze where I amazed many ways.

Directed choirs and bands, staged operas and plays,
Wrote music, was playwright got well deserved praise.
Yes theater and music was always my first love,
Performing, arranging, did all the above.
Became professional, singing till hoarse
Finely it led to unpleasant divorce.
Lost four children dear, watched all disappear,
My heart sheared by spear, but I’m here.

In theater met Mitzi, she made music supreme
Little I knew she’d become my life’s dream.
Always thought children in excellent hands
First wife married, she and he the same brand.
State wise did all we could do, searched atmosphere new
Tried Deutschland for opera, soon other work drew
Mitzi at Uni. me dental Houdini, complain ?, would you?We always knew somehow we’d pull through.
We still worked at theater, not as full-time occupations,
But neither was work, both were more like vacations.
 
I’d feared I’d been sheared from the children I’d reared.
Tho’ it took 30 years, my dreams disappeared re-appeared.
Betty the first contact from progeny lost track of,
Ending an un-knowledge-y hypogyny of lacked love.

   We’ve been through Nixon, Mc Carthy and Clinton’s affair,
Gong Shows ’n’ Porn Shows and orange-blue hair,
 Beetles, Gypsy Rose, Jack Paar and Johnnie, Major Bowes
Witnessed wars more times than once upon-y, heaven knows
And went crazy with pictures all hazy but seeming so near,
We watched the very first moon walk and we’re here.
 
Sang in Carnegie Hall, more oft in shopping mall.
Sang tunes make you bawl, sang tones that appall.


Been called ghoul and queer, but sometimes times a dear.
Veered like fool to appear, unsure of lines, full of fear.
I should’ve gone to an acting school, that seems clear,
But somebody said, “He sings so sincere”, so I’m here.
Opera singer one day, next day back to the drill.
Top billing Sunday, Monday work dentistry skill.
So I’ve careened from career to career,
My memoirs been finished well over a year, but I’m here.
I’ve run the gamut from A to Z,
Three cheers and dammit, C’est la vie;
I got through all of last year and I’m here.
Lord knows at least I was there, and I’m here.

