Hobo Joe

Hobo Joe Joseph he was a wealthy man Career had always gone to plan Success came early in his life He had a gorgeous, loving wife Her name was Adrianne He owned a nice big shiny car He’d often travel wide and far To see the world’s exotic places Meeting folks with famous faces Joseph had a lucky star All his ambitions were complete His life was orderly and neat Until death came one summer day To take his Adrianne away And knock him off his feet Without her, life lost all it’s glow His spirits at an all time low He rid himself of all possessions Sank in to a deep depression Became known as ‘Hobo Joe’ He moved on to another town Where he made the people frown Hobo Joe was a scruffy tramp In an old army tent he’d camp Which the locals oft tore down But Hobo Joe he did not care With matted beard and long wild hair He was now a laughing stock Children they would point and mock Under his sorrowful glare Hobo Joe would roam the streets With plastic sandals on his feet Scavenging from rubbish bins Searching for half empty tins To find something to eat Hobo Joe did nothing wrong Police often moved him along And Joe would do as he was told In winter time he felt the cold Whenever the wind blew strong One day when looking in the trash He found a wallet stuffed with cash Without any sign of hesitation Took it to the police station Though winds and rain did lash The sergeant he said ‘Thank you Joe’ And when Joe was about to go ‘The rain is pouring down like Hell Why not dry off in our warm cell? Left unlocked for an honest man’ Joe replied ‘I don’t mind if I do’ Took the key for cell number two Thereafter he would use the cell The sergeant got to know him well To Joe’s past, he had no clue One day the chief inspector came With his daughter sick and lame She looked so sad in her wheelchair She had a sickness very rare Joe asked ‘What is your name?’ Her father said ‘Now, Adrianne Say ‘Hello’ to this gentleman’ She smiled at Joe and feebly waved Joe heard that her life could be saved But it required a very rich man Medical treatment in the USA Available, but with fees to pay Beyond a chief inspectors means Adrianne would not see her teens Much to everyone’s dismay Another Adrianne deceased! Joe’s despair was thus increased He asked how much was to be found Sarge said ‘Half a million pounds ‘Tis the nature of the beast’ Joe went to the High Street bank Approached a teller, name of Frank ‘Get out of here, you filthy fellow’ At poor old Hobo Joe he bellowed ‘Is this some kind of a prank?’ But Joe was unfazed by this kid ‘Cash please, half a million quid’ Frank gave Joe a dirty look Joe handed over his bank book And said ‘Now do as I bid’ The manager came to mediate He told Frank to capitulate ‘Now give the money to Mr Joe He has a large account you know From the sale of his estate’ Frank placed banknotes neatly stacked Which in a shopping bag Joe packed Bidding Frank ‘Have a nice day’ Off Joe went upon his way The bag slung over his back The Sarge was an astonished man Joe told him ‘It’s for Adrianne To the USA she can now go If more is needed, let me know Keep me informed if you can’ The girl retuned from medical success Wearing her most pretty dress Her wheelchair she did not now need From her sickness she was freed She shone with happiness First thing Adrianne had to know ‘Where can I find Hobo Joe? I do hope he is still around’ But Joe was dead after being found Beneath a drift of snow