Alley Violinist

Robert Lax

if you were an alley
violinist
and they threw you money
from three windows

and the first note
contained
a nickel and said:
when you play, we dance
and
sing, signed
a very poor family

and the second one
contained
a dime and said:
i like your playing very
much
signed
a sick old lady

and the last one
contained
a dollar and said:
beat it,

would you:
stand there and play?

beat it?

walk away playing your
fiddle?