My Little Shirtwaist Fire

I keep pictures of him in my mind yeah you
know the
kind they curl up on the edges, the corners
are bended
into a trickpulled from behind.

Physically he is serene he looks good he
looks
clean yeah I know he's dead but I know what
he
said and I think I might know what he mean.
With many thanks for your well, well wishes
he says
believe me, sincerely yours
Mr. E Leon Rauis would say
it's sentiment which he abhors.
Seventeen Union Square North did he walk back
and
forth in the glass at the shop did he smile
did he
stop for awhile did he question his worth?
Seventeen Union Square West dressed up
looking his best
Mr. E. Leon Rauis could never know
how this would seem his one small request.
With many thanks for your well, well wishes
he says
believe me, sincerely yours
Mr. E Leon Rauis would say
it's sentiment which he abhors.
Regretfully so he still wants you to know of
the
things in his heart he can't say.
His penmenship does a disservice,
It's illegible to this day.
Oh, Mr. E. Leon Rauis believe me
I hope it all turned out O.K.
Picking a shop for the shoot did he buy a new
suit? was he tall, was he kind, did he
finally
find it that day, was his end absolute?
He got old like everyone, was he somebody's
son? did he fall, did he try to succeed or
deny
what he knew or things he had done?