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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