-The Greasy Pole-

The purpose of the Greasy-Pole is singular:

to prevent a challenger from reaching its top.

Holiday—

and the Greasy-Pole stands straight-up

at 30 feet or thereabout

and near its peak hang from their anchors

tantalizing meats in bulky form—

a rounded cheese of the provolone strain 

housed neatly in its safety net

and assorted trinkets tacked on the pole

nearly half-way up

defined as "grab-bags" as consolation

to the weak-of-heart, muscle and determination. 

But the Sun and Sky and Dreams align 

at the greasy-pole's tip, for standing thereon

is placed a starchy little American flag

and tightly wrapped around its staff, a crisp 

one hundred dollar bill,—— 

the staff dramatically pierced into a fat, tubular

whole salami.

                                         -Columbus Day Celebration

                                         -Columbus Park, Fall River

In 1959, Dominic Petrucci scaled the greasy-pole,

seized the salami with its flag and one hundred

bucks in tow and triumphantly descended the heights

to great celebrations, and quietly moved-on to continue

his only life.

Mr. Petrucci, known locally as "K.O."

resided alone 

in a third-floor tenement across from

the Marconi Club where his father

took near permanent residence,

graduated from high school,

served in the United States Navy,

was medically discharged,

returned to his hometown,

took menial jobs here and there,

hung-out at the neighborhood's

active watering hole which

his father bequeathed to him

and in October, went to the Park,

worked his way through the madding crowd

to center field and there, struggled to hold on

but ascended the Greasy-Pole, then descended it,

arm-locking the great salami and clutching

the little starchy american flag with its C-note

wrapped tightly around its narrow staff.

Dominic Petrucci briefly drove
for the "Vet's Safety Cab" Company 

and died soon after at thirty-two of chronic

liver disease directly attributed to alcohol abuse

no more than half-a-block from where

the Greasy-Pole once stood defiantly before him,

there, where the people cheered in great celebration,

the man who'd die in the room where the whole of his life

was soon to vanish from the mouth of the city of his birth

along with his singular accomplishment; all to vanish save here.

                                                    Fall River, Massachusetts