Renzo liked being a button man.
He didn’t have to worry about blending in.
He was above that. If he made a racket
in the street, no one would say anything.
He didn’t have to refrain himself
from his wants. Or his temper.
He made a little extra dealing crank
and crack, but only to the mulignons.
Not in his neighborhood.
His heart beat in his chest with pride.
He offered them his protection,
but they had to pay on time.
He was going to have to do something
about Oriana. She had latched on to him,
but she was just his cumare.
He wasn’t stringing her along.
She was supposed to know her place,
and be happy with his spare time.
His capo asked, and Renzo answered.
A strike mucking up business?
Consider it busted. Some current fashions?
Look what fell off the truck.
A “draft” for a contract? Consider it written.
And no trace of the pen afterwards.
/ / /
This poem was inspired by the many hours of The Sopranos that I have been watching of late, using words from Wordle 61 at The Sunday Whirl.
waste management business: euphemism for organized crime
button man: a made man, a wiseguy, a goodfella
mulignons: a derogatory term for Blacks, pronounced “mool in yon”
cumare: girlfriend/mistress, pronounced “coo mahd” or “goo mahd”
capo: mob boss
contract: a murder assignment
Sadly Waiting for Recess 
there is a certain warped allure to the mob life, love the Godfather movies, have only seen a few of the Sopranos though. good work here
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Mark, “warped allure” is perfect to describe my fascination. Thanks.
Richard
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Richard, I love what you did here. I enjoyed the Sopranos while they were televised here. However, I didn’t remember much of the vocabulary. Thanks for the list.
Pamela
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Pamela, thank you. I’m much enjoying The Sopranos now, and I love the vocabulary of the show.
Richard
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a great story, should be made into a movie…it was exciting and well-written
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Joanne, thank you. The Sopranos have that “movie” feel, so I’m glad that comes through here.
Richard
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Love it!
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Susan, thank you, as always.
Richard
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I like the ending…it nails home the tone of the piece. Excellent write, I love the Sopranos. You’ve captured the spirit of the show, Richard.
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Brenda, thank you. Glad that it does the show justice.
Richard
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Never watched The Sopranos, so I was thankful for your definition of the terms! An interesting write.
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Mary, thank you. I’m fascinated by the way they speak on the show, so I wanted to include it in the poem, but also give some definitions so readers weren’t lost. I was also a little worried about the subject matter. My character is not a good guy; it was difficult writing about him.
Richard
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Being only slightly removed…maybe more so from the Sicilian side of the Family…I couldn’t get into the God Father movies or The Sopranos. But I did enjoy your telling. Guess that’s why I stick to fantasy…:
http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/06/sunday-whirl-61-making-connections.html
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Jules, thank you. I appreciate your comments. And I was worried about how this poem might be taken. Very different than my usual – which in and of itself is good, I think – but I didn’t want to offend anyone – or further stereotypes. I tried to focus on the character I had in mind – and I see him as a bad man, perhaps even beyond redemption.
Richard
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Unique voice unlike your usual, Richard… I really like it!
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Laurie, thank you. It was different for me, and I enjoyed writing about such a bad man.
Richard
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This was a fun ride Richard and I was into all the Godfathers, and the Sopranos,and you did them proud, in my view … great wordling.
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Thanks. Glad you found it a “fun ride” – that’s how it was intended, much as I see The Sopranos.
Richard
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You uncovered the scene and wrote it magnificently.
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Teri, thank you. I appreciate your visit.
Richard
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Really good use of dialect. Haven’t watched the Sapranos, but read enough suspense and mystery that I understood. Thanks for the list of definitions to check myself against. This is quite different from your usual, yet retains your careful thoughtful skills. Bravo!
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/
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Elizabeth, thank you. I wanted to play with that dialect, and include definitions so readers wouldn’t be totally lost. It was different, which was fun, even though my character is such an unlikable one.
Richard
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You wild and crazy man, you. I love that you had fun with this while giving us a story.
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Margo, thanks. It was fun, in a twisted sense, writing a story about such an unpleasant man.
Richard
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SO much fun! I can’t wait until you start watching TBBT, to see how they influence you! 🙂
Seriously…I haven’t read many of the wordle poems yet, but I’m sure you’ve taken us in a unique direction with these words. Very clever.
PW
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Paula, thank you. It wouldn’t surprise me if TBBT influences me when I start watching it. After all, I’ve written poems that have referenced Lost (twice now), Nip/Tuck, and now The Sopranos.
Richard
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