Donny was a very young man,
living in a foreign land.
He took some time one night to play.
Cruised upon the carney midway.
He walked upon that dusty field
and watched the whirling
ferris wheel.
For he was young and never believed
that he could ever be deceived.
At last the midway morning broke
breakfast a corn dog and a coke.
Gulp it down and light up a smoke.
Make it last ’cause he’s flat broke.
Donny was high, but now he’s low.
No money and no place to go.
But Donny’s young and he won’t grieve
with all those aces up his sleeve.
Walking to the parking lot,
Donny needed a place to sleep.
He was young and would have fought
his roughest for the right to keep
his Daddy’s watch and his cigarette pack.
But he forgot to watch his back.
Donny was quick as he tried to leave
but his ass was kicked by that lonesome thief.
Bastards! He thought, as he came to.
His face was smashed and black and blue.
While strong men struck that gong that pealed,
Donny lay beaten in that dusty field.
The tilt-a-whirl saw the young girls screaming,
They can see Donny, lying there, dreaming.
Donny was young and in Donny believed
but look how soon he was deceived.
He dreamed he found a coin of gold.
Off in the distance, a church bell tolled.
And there, upon that foreign coin,
Donny could see the King’s face drawn.
And beneath the King, the words so just,
(he needed to learn) in God We Trust.
Donny was young and learned to believe,
and now he knows who would deceive.
Timothy Stricker
6/20/96