The Poetry Corner

Mack the Knife

By Bertolt Brecht

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them pearly white. Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight. When the shark bites with his teeth, dear Scarlet billows start to spread. Fancy gloves, though, wears Macheath, dear So there's not a trace of red. On the side-walk Sunday morning Lies a body oozing life; Someone's sneaking 'round the corner. Is that someone Mack the Knife? From a tugboat by the river A cement bag's dropping down; The cement's just for the weight, dear. Bet you Mackie's back in town. Louie Miller disappeared, dear After drawing out his cash; And Macheath spends like a sailor. Did our boy do something rash? Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Lucy Brown Oh, the line forms on the right, dear Now that Mackie's back in town.