Aesthetic Realism Looks at New York City: Poetry

 

 

Eli Siegel

 

Heaven for the Landlord; or, Forthwith Understands

The landlord's Heaven is where
   There's a constant coming in of rent
   And nothing at all is spent
On any repair.

The landlord's Heaven is where
   As the Heavenly clouds roll--
   For him, rent increases roll
In, constantly; for there
Is no Heavenly rent control,
No Heavenly rent control--
Nothing to question the landlord's soul,
Nothing to question the landlord's soul.

What landlord ever to heaven went
Without a hope of collecting rent?--
Where the Heavenly clouds roll,
Where the rent increases roll
   Into the landlord's hands
   By the Great Landlord's clear commands--
   Which every tenant understands:
   Forthwith.

 

From Hail, American Development (Definition Press)
© 1968 by Eli Siegel

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