CHECKERS COURT

in memory of Jeff Schofield

RIP buddy 1958 – 2006

if you’re lookin’ to party

there’s only one place ta go

Vic and Murray’s at Checkers Court

where you can hoot and holler

as much as ya like

jus’ don’t get sick on the hardwood floors

Jeff and Janet, Lill’, Ron and Christine

Hank and Bob, Dave, Chris and Cindy

sittin’ at the picnic table with beer in hand

“good people” miles around droppin’ by

cause what’s available at Checkers Court

is very much in demand

a great neighbourhood

if you’re lookin’ to waste a little time

escape the creditors for a while

warp back to the carefree days of adolescence

not that long ago

a row housed state of mind on a dead end street

Heavy Metal’s children racing towards thirty

raisin’ their own kids

barbecued steak on cardboard plates

three foot Monitor lizard

guardin’ the hallway upstairs

most nights you can hear us

crankin’ out the tunes

callin’ in sick tomorrows

our noses covered in the year roun’ snow

yeah Checkers Court is full of criminals

who never break the law

Hank from Finland lookin’ biker scary

turns out to be harmless

power nappin’

balancing a cigarette and vodka in one hand

Vic an’ his X-acto knife an’ scales

permanent smile takin’ it all in

cousin Murray clean and sober

happy jus’ ridin’ his Kawi’

“catch ya later man

bring me back a Pepsi”

torn screen store front of the candy dealer

closed drape showcase for the baby faced petty thief

best not to ask questions

just accept that it is

yeah there’s happiness and despair here

like any other place

someday we’ll look back

and wish it was still there

but for now we could choose to do better

if only we knew how

at Checkers Court

© 1989 Chris Sorrenti