He sharpened knives. To advertise his trade
He banged on something metal in his van.
Excited by the sound this clanging made,
We all believed he was the ice cream man.

We knew we were deceived; his summons’ pitch
Contained no promise for our happiness,
But we ran outside, true to his call, rich
In our expectations, and nothing less.

Robert Donohue is a poet and playwright. His poetry has appeared in 2 Bridges Review, IthicaLit, and Better than Starbucks. The Red Harlem Readers gave his verse play, In One Piece (about Vincent van Gogh) a staged reading. He lives on Long Island, NY.