The Magician

The corner, selling sodas
"Would you like some ice cream added?"
Little girl, I'd like a float but —
I have to fight the habit
I've kicked a whole bunch
I think I'll kindly pass, then."

"Would you buy me a soda?
This is where I have to keep my cash, if
Any of it doesn't show up
Every two cents is two more lashes"
"Little girl — I have no money for soda
All I have is magic
If you close your eyes and hope, just
Maybe an object will come through my hat then"

And they laughed, and laughed so much
You could almost sense the passion
Though no one had ever known of
The man who did the magic

"Little Girl! Little Girl! Do you still sell ice cream?"
On that same corner, she replied
"What do you think? Sir, I'm nineteen"
He sat there alone, then he cried
Forced himself to think of nice things
He points at his watch— "the time?"
"It's three. Could I ask you to leave so kindly?"

He cried, and he cried so much
He could never kick his habits
He never thought that she would grow up
He'd often appear in flashes

In the bar, pouring liquor
He had made sure it was afternoon
No one would be in there to hear her
He would finally kick his habits soon
Encouraging himself through a mirror
His heart as empty as that room
But strangely, he still feared her

One glass, two people
Her reflection was at the glass end
In the air, there was an evil
No one had ever matched it
He looked at her, "she's feeble,"
He thought, said "looks like you have a habit"
His voice as sharp as needles
"You keep showing up, ya maggot!"

"We'll see how you like this!"
Then the sight of pistol flashes
The only way without crime which
He could finally kick his habit

No one ever came to find him
It was a product of what she imagined
But when she revisits her vices....



She has to look at the little dead man
The dead man who did the magic