The Rienzi Hotel [by Mitch Sisskind]

The Rienzi Hotel

Day is serious but night is play

Of dark around the headlights;

Police at the Rienzi Hotel anyway.

 

Queen Moon in her royal array

Don’t appear every single night;

Day is serious but night is play

 

Night, we do it our own way

Do whatever with all our might;

Police at the Rienzi Hotel anyway.

 

Day, here’s what I forgot to say

In embrace with you real tight;

Day is serious but night is play.

 

Night seems rather far away

During the day, right, right?

Police at the Rienzi Hotel anyway.

 

Oh, how like at night we sway

Because everything is okay;

Day is serious but night is play,

Police at the Rienzi Hotel anyway.

Comments

[David Lehman]

This is one swell / Villanelle.

[Vincent Powell]

Whst is the relationship, if any, between Diversey Aevnue in Chhcago and the mind-set of, say, a Chicago taxi dirver?

[mitch sisskind]

I was a Chicago taxi driver. Although I grew up two blocks from Diversey, I stayed away from it as a driver. Maybe that was a good idea, or a big mistake. It was a true Damon Runyon environment.

[Vincent Powell]

Did Diversey means something in a language that we might dub "black jazz"?