Broken on the Wheel and Collected Poems

By John LaSusa

Broken on the Wheel is a three part historical prose poem that spans two centuries of New York City history. Three interconnected characters narrate this sweeping tale that addresses the American Dream and those who are denied access to it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 14, 2009
• ISBN: 9781462808564

John LaSusa

John LaSusa was born and raised in New York City and has been teaching high school English for over twenty years. He resides in the Bronx with his wife Corrine and their two cats. He presently teaches in the Yonkers, New York public school system and is working on his first novel.

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Copyright © 2009 by John LaSusa.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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57064

For

Michael, Christopher and Jennifer 

Contents

Broken on the Wheel An American Poem in Three Parts

Negro Joshua (1850)

Bearded Agnes/Strawberry Alice (1900)

Pete Smalls (1950)

Collected Poems

Dick Tracy at the Delicatessen

Million Dollar Movie

I Discover Blondes

Harlem Days

The First Time

Hartsdale

By the Zoo

Reflections Through a Window

Evander Childs

Sammy the Spider

Friars on Fire

The Rug Cleaner

The Laughter of the Muses

The Pedagogue

The Lacerator

Francine

The Pursuit of Trivia

The Lure of the Mandrake

Holden’s Lament

Front and Center

The Girl from the Fourth Floor

The Forgotten Feeling

Cathy Wakes

Bus Stop Watching

The Voice You Left Behind

57064-LASU-layout.pdf

Broken on the Wheel

An American Poem in Three Parts

Negro Joshua (1850)

Let me tell you something about myself:

I ain’t no nig—

And most of you all know to what I’m referring,

So now that we got that bit out of the way . . .

Owned my own home since 1823, that’s when

I started with the bones, you know collecting

Them bones off dead animals and corpses abandoned

By their families out in the woods and

Deliver them to the bone factory over to

The Brook Land side of the island,

They was easy days—just follow the packs of

Pigs up and down the Broad Way—yes sir more bones

Then I knew what to do with let alone carry on

My back—you see I been smart that way—

No drinking or gambling in my life

And on occasion, I visit this gal on the west side,

I keep to myself so I can keep my dignity

I ain’t no dandy now, but I see only one way of

Living: work hard, avoid people (all kinds) and

Lower your eyes so people