Sammy the Streetlight ©1996 Richard March Sammy was a streetlight, lit the corner block; said he’d seen most everything, so he thought Bonnie was a bicycle, as fast as she was old; every day he’d chain her there, to the pole Kevin was a curbside grill on the sewer drain; he could swallow anything, & he’d never admit to the pain Bonnie was the flower man’s, he rode her every day; Sundays they would ride for hours, by the Bay Sammie loved to hear her tell stories where they’d been; she would carry messages to his friends She most liked to ride the bridge, the streetlights there were gold Sammie dreamed of living there, shining down on the waters below One day Sammie heard a screeching sound; hard rain, car planed, smashed him to the ground He lay shakin’ but he didn’t crack; He had saved the flower man who hid behind his back Bonnie didn’t fare so well, chained to Sammie’s pole; she had took it head on from the car that lost control A messenger had seen it all & asked the flower man, “Would $20 take this broken bike up off your hands” Sammie cried but overheard the city workers say, “I know it's bitter sweet old friend but it’s your lucky day You see your year’s a classic, we don’t make them any more, & yesterday out on the Bridge we lost old #4 So now you’ll come with us to take your home, out on the shore” Sammie loved to watch the waves, though he rarely spoke, Most days when the clouds rolled in, he’d sit n’ smoke Soon enough the rains had gone, snow was on the ground, It was on a Sunday morn, he heard the sound Bonnie’s wheels were singing out, calling out his name, the messenger had took her in, and fixed the frame “Kevin says to say hello!” she screamed as she rode by; Sammie, don’t you know this girl loves to ride Sammie watched her disappear, the sun set red and gold Soon his light would flicker on, shining down on the waters below...