2010.54.2659

• counter culture

The poster shows Ed Diamond, Legs Diamond, Fatsy Walsh, and Lucky Luciano standing up against a wall looking forward. Underneath each man is his name and how he died. Printed from left to right is "Ed Diamond: Shot / Legs Diamond: Shot / Fatsy Walsh: Electrocuted / Lucky Luciano: Poisoned." Printed in large purple font underneath the image and names is "Crime One." Printed below "Crime One" is the poem written by Christopher Logue. The poem reads: "This is the final statement we shall make: / Although we got no less than we were due, / Pity the likes of us, and God may take / Pity, my friends, upon the likes of you. / Observe us in the middle of the air, / Four rashers off a putrid barbecue, / The stink alone is quite enough to scare / You out of all the wrongs you long to do. / So go down on your honest knees and swear: / 'Be good to us - and we'll be good to You'. / Your kids became our addicts and our whores, / We broke your strikes, and when the need arose / We bought your constables, we bent your laws, / How many witnesses we slew, God knows - / You stupid, vain, self-righteous, ugly bores! / We, the dynamic impresarios / Who gratified your soft, incarnate flaws. / If you should feel some recompense is due, Mention us when you make that deal of yours: / 'Be good to us - and we'll be good to You'. / Gas, gunshot, Alcatraz, electric chair - / Only the best machinery could do / Justice to the exuberant despair / You legal felt for us illegal few. / Please do not let that absolution stun / Your dreaming hearts. It is high time you knew, / From Paradise to Pandemonium / There's but one different make of man, not two, / Crying outside the door of kingdom come: / 'Be good to us - and we'll be good to You'."