CITY SQUARE by FAIRFAX DOWNEY

I had a diploma,
A brand new diploma,
I took my diploma
To the city square.
I wanted a job there,
A pretty fair job there,
And I looked for a job there
'Most everywhere.

For I went to a bank where they wanted a messenger.
@3("Ten bucks a week for a lively messenger.")@1
"I can be a cashier and not a mere messenger."
But they hadn't a job there, not anywhere there.

I had a diploma,
And an M.A. diploma,
I took my diplomas
To the city square.
I did want a job there,
And no baby's job there,
And I looked for a job there
'Most everywhere.

And I went down to Wall Street where they hire runner boys
@3("Sure, there's a chance for a trusty runner boy.")@1
"Have you a partnership? I'm not a runner boy."
But they hadn't a partnership, not anywhere there.

I got a diploma,
A Ph.D. one.
I took it in my hand
To the city square.
I was after a job there
(I did need a job there)
And I looked for a job there
'Most everywhere.

So I went to a place where they sold fine real estate.
@3("Commissions for a wide-awake salesman of real estate.")@1
"Let me in the firm, I don't like selling real estate."
But they hadn't got a job there, not anywhere there.

I had nothing,
It seemed I had nothing,
So I didn't go down
To the city square.
But I went back to college,
To teach at college,
And there were diplomas
'Most everywhere.

So I'm sorry for the wage slaves who sell fine real estate,
I pity the frenzy of the stock exchange,
I'm sad for the money-mad banking interests,
Since they don't like diplomas, not anywhere there.

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

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