keep the kiddies happy

there was a balloon man
in the early
eighties who
sold his balloons
in the bars in Washington.
keep the kiddies
he'd say, standing out on
the sidewalk
as we left, half sober
and hungry.
new loves attached to our
arms.
keep the kiddies happy,
he'd say,
holding up his bouquet
of pink and yellow
blue and green balloons.
he wore a black top hat,
round sun glasses
and vest over a white
silk shirt. his skin was
a bright black sheen
of sweat and sweetness,
keep the kiddies he'd say,
tipping his hat
in the wee hours of the morning.
keep the little ones happy.