On A Ledge

By luigi_pagano

Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • 362 reads
6 comments
 

The story goes that in 1929
the U.S. economy lost its edge
and consequently investors
found themselves on a ledge.

Should they sell or hang on
to their fast diminishing wodge?
Those with the most volatile stock 
appeared to live on a knife-edge.

It is said some committed suicide
by junping from the Ritz's ledge.
But it seems to be largely a myth:
it did not happen, historians allege.

It's a disrepectful misreprentation
from detractors trying to sell a pup,
who have now given their pledge
not to dredge that phony story up.

 
© Luigi Pagano 2025

Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Historical Fiction
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I see you have enjoyed playing around with '-edge ' words and similar, too! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

It is a part of my 'eccentric' style of writing that I often adopt to lighten the tone of a piece, Rhiannon. I generally believe that a poem should rhyme, and experimenting with words can add to the fun for me and, hopefuly, for the readers too.
Best wishes, Luigi x

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

I don't know Luigi it does sound not that too far fetched- with the 9/11 terrorist bombings some people did jump from the highest stories, or not? Although if so there really should be film footage of the stock market crash in 1929.

As far as I can see the world markets are always in "unstable" equilibrium with a crash some time or another inevitable.

If I sell and you sell, he sells and they sell and all the time panic and picking up momentum and every body just sells and sells till the all in all is worth naught.

Anyway jumping won't work with me I've got fear of heights it's quite normal.

Cheers Luigi! Eat drink be merry ...

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Tom. There does not seem to be any evidence that suicides due the market's collapse occurred. Stocks and shares go up and down like a yoyo all the time. My investment portfolio is not big enough for me to panic in the event of a crash.

Best, Luigi

 

Submitted by Nolan on

To "live on a knife-edge" doesn't sound good Luigi, everyone has his breaking point the stories might well be true.

All is well & Nolan

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Indeed they might, Nolan.