Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Vol. 122, Nos. 3 & 4. Whole Nos. 745 & 746, September/October 2003

Sonnet From the Pen of a Mug by Will Ryan

Because I ain’t got nuttin’ much ta do

But lie aroun’ all day an’ try ta think,

I figgered I wud write a woid or two

’Bout hows Icome t’ end up in da clink.

“Insurance” is da biz what is my line;

Da boss, he sells protection for a fee.

When clients don’t cough up dey pays a fine,

Which is, name-ully: dey has ta deal wit’ me.

Now ya meets a lotta people, which is nice,

Da dough ain’t bad, de hours is okay.

But whilst beatin’ up some plainclothes fink from Vice,

He objected ta my woik an’ said I’d pay.

So beware of undercover snitches, see?

Or you’ll end up writin’ poetry... like me.