Street Urchins

by Pat Darnell


Be quick on the
Onto brother,
Bring water first
Before the others hit
Your water-skin shirt
and taunt you for fun
Fountains drip
Catches too much sun
Do not stop to sip

But bring water swiftly
To where we pitch proud
Pennies, listen brother
for many, of us grumbling
First off, coercing, a crowd
And then much worse

Baud cussing a’hitch loud
That’s where we will be
Around in the alley ...
... with powerful thirsts
pitch'n roll'n pennies first
And, and watch them hit


Like craw-daddy’s crawl’n
Go to hell you others all’n
Watch your pennies stall’n
Climb out of your ditch
Mine stop at the wall,
... leaners at a pitch.

Oh, brother, on, onto
Bring water ... Be quick
All my pennies are tricked,
My coppers are leaners,
‘n they ‘re coming in tall
We're gonna win it all.
_________________
NOTE:  Pitch Penny 

"There are a whole variety of games which simply involve the throwing of coins or discs at walls or at holes in a bench, chair, wall or box. This game has been going on for time immemorial and its origins are lost in time.

"The most well know example in England comes from Norfolk and Essex and is called Pitch Penny, Penny Seat, Penny Slot, Tossing the Penny or Penny in the Hole. Essentially pennies are thrown across the room and into a hole carved in the seat of a high-backed settle or wooden bench.

" ... Pundits needn't be concerned - this just makes it easier to construct your own boards without any worries. Many pub games have been without any official rules for centuries and all the better for it... ..."