The Marlboro Cop…by Robert M Katzman
© 2/2011 by Robert M. Katzman
Hot
Hot
Day
Poor Man
Living
in
a
Rich Man’s
Town
Cars
Stretched out
Like
a
Highway to Hell
Gotta
Get
Home
I whip around the Mob
an’
Sail around the Shoulder
Running
for that
last
Green Light
Between
Me
a
Couch
n’
Cool, cool air
But
Shit!
There’s
Those
Damn
Red and Blue
Lights
Crawlin’
Right
Up
My
Ass
I see the Cop get out
In
My
Cracked
Rearview
Mirror
No
Cop Hat
Tight
Blue Cop Shirt
Too small
He lifts
Weights
Big Time
and
wants
Everyone
to
Know
It
Open neck collar
Sweat
Pouring
Down
His
Sun- burnt
Face
Shirt drenched
Mirror Shades
Tattoo
on
his
Muscled
Forearm
He ain’t happy
I’m bein’ pulled over
by
The Marlboro Cop
Shaggy
Red
Moustache
Big Frown
“Kill your Motor!”
He growls
“License, Registration, Now!”
He barks
“What’re ya think yer doin’ man?”
He ain’t askin’
Ashamed
Caught
Guilty
I say:
“I did it”
“I’m so tired”
“I’m sorry”
The Marlboro Cop
Stops the Interrogation
Stares
at
Me
I’m
Driving
Rust on Wheels
Held
Together
By
Prayers
On a
Friday Night
Surrounded
by
Power
in
Jaguars
Mercedes
Volvos
AC broken
Windows open
Breathin’ their Exhaust
“You did it?”
He asks, softer
“Yeah, ya got me, Officer”
Another stare from The Marlboro Cop
“Fifteen years”
He snaps
“Fifteen years
an’
you’re the
First
Son of a Bitch
To say:
“I did it”
“God damn it!”
He shakes his head
Hot Sweat
Flying
on
My
Confessional
Face
Cop
Shoves
his
Ticket Book
In
his
Back Pocket
“A Fucking Honest Man!”
He snarls
in
Disbelief
He
Wipes
His
Muscled
Tattooed
Forearm
Across
His
Damp Forehead
Wet hair
Stickin’
To
his
skin
“No Ticket for the Honest Man”
The Marlboro Cop
Says to me
“Beat it”
I
Stare
Stunned
into
my
Dirty
Broken
Mirror
Confused
as
the
Tough
Cop
Walks Away
The
Cracked
Glass
Slicing him
into
Both
Good and Evil
Mercy
from
the
Merciless?
I
Was
Waiting
For
The
Silver Bullet
But
Well, Hell
Man
I
Didn’t
Want
to
Press my Luck
(A true story: July 2003, Highland Park, Illinois)
About the writer and his other life in Skokie, Illinois:
My Store twitter: @MagazineMuseum
My Stories Twitter: @ChicagoKatzman
Bob Katzman’s Magazine Museum: 100,000 periodicals back to 1576!
Wall of Rock: 50 years of cool Rock periodicals on display & for sale
4906 Oakton St. (8000 north and 4900 west) Skokie, Ill 60077
(847)677-9444 Mon-Fri: 10 am to 5 pm / Weekends: 10 am to 2 pm
Katzman’s Publishing Company site: www.FightingWordsPubco.com
Katzman’s online non-fiction stories: www.DifferentSlants.com
Poetry? For me, writing poetry is not an option.
It’s a response to emotion. Like cigarette smoke,
it’s fast-flowing, shapeless and with little time to capture it.
Writing poetry in an imperative. I say what I feel compelled to say.
I sell my five published books via mail order and accept major credit cards.
I don’t use PayPal. I just talk to people on the phone.
Fast, reliable service. Read my stories and see what you think.
I’m also available for hire to read my true Chicago stories to organizations
and answer all questions. I autograph my books when I sell them.
I am currently seeking an agent to do more readings.
Feel free to call me at the number above.
About the writer and his other life in Skokie, Illinois:
Bob Katzman’s Magazine Museum: 100,000 periodicals back to 1576!
Wall of Rock: 50 years of cool Rock periodicals on display & for sale
4906 Oakton St. (8000 north and 4900 west) Skokie, Ill 60077
(847)677-9444 Mon-Fri: 10 am to 5 pm / Weekends: 10 am to 2 pm
Katzman’s Publishing Company site: www.FightingWordsPubco.com
Katzman’s online non-fiction stories: www.DifferentSlants.com
Poetry? For me, writing poetry is not an option.
It’s a response to emotion. Like cigarette smoke,
it’s fast-flowing, shapeless and with little time to capture it.
Writing poetry in an imperative. I say what I feel compelled to say.
I sell my five published books via mail order and accept major credit cards.
I don’t use PayPal. I just talk to people on the phone.
Fast, reliable service. Read my stories and see what you think.
I’m also available for hire to read my true Chicago stories to organizations
and answer all questions. I autograph my books when I sell them.
I am currently seeking an agent to do more readings.
Feel free to call me at the number above.