Rosie lived
in the Adelphi Apartments

down by Carrigafoyle

At night she read Cannery Row

before saying goodnight

to the highway below

And all the tomcats knew her

Over on the Allenby steps

Sundays she'd burn a candle

For all the tears she hadn't wept

And all the ends she hadn't met

Electric thick around her

She'd put a record on

Something warm like Olga Guillot

Swaying her hips to a far-off drone

Where she lived
in the Adelphi Apartments

down by Carrigafoyle

At night she read Cannery Row

before saying goodnight

to the highway below

And Maurice next door coughing

'Bout the things he tried to say

Didn't want to seem like a creep

He always dreaded the day

He'd put his ear to the wall
to hear the fall of silence

Rosie'd gone, moved on away

from where she lived
in the Adelphi Apartments

down by Carrigafoyle

At night she read Cannery Row

before saying goodnight

to the highway below