Raindogblue

Cube

 

 

Brother

 

My brother received his pink slip.

He's coming to test with my department next month.

 

 

Abstract Alpha

 

 

 

 

Red

 

 

 

 

Snow Day: Part II

 

Orders for the Night:

Stay Warm, 

Limit your driving.

 

A Lead

 

Today, before shift, 

I saw a letter in my box. 

 

From the DNA on a cigarette stub

I collected from the scene

of a November burglary, 

the State Crime Lab identified

a north side mope as the suspect.

 

The hunt’s on.

 

A Snow Day

It spit snow, off and on, all last night.

A meager inch accumulated between thaws.

The district cancelled school.

 

 

Before work, as the flakes began to fall again,

fat and thick, I asked my youngest, 

Can you get me a two work shirts:

a short sleeved one and a long sleeved one?

Her eyes grew big.

 

"You're going to work in the snow?

 

Yup.

 

"Cool!"

 

 

 

Reflection in the Dark

 

In the dark, in the rain, 

between warehouses, 

two teens duck into the shadows

as I turn the corner. 

 

My headlights reflect

off the rattle cans

in their back pockets.

 

I stop them.

 

Have a seat.

 

They sit.

 

"What did we do?"

 

Hand over the paint.

 

Each pulls out a can.

 

Out taggin’?

 

"We were goin' ta."

 

I pat them down:

no sketch books, no gloves, 

their hands are cleans,

the nozzles aren't tacky. 

There's no new graffiti in area. 

 

You're lucky. I caught you

before you committed a crime.

 

I confiscate the cans

and send them on their way.

 

 

It's No Problem

 

Tonight, during rush hour,

I stop a car for a U-ball.

 

The driver’s apologetic.

admits the error.

I give him a warning.

 

He asks, “Do you have a sticker?

I don’t want my son

to be afraid of the police.”

 

Sure.

 

I hand one over.

 

Do you mind if I talk to your son?

 

“Not at all.”

 

I open the back door, squat down, 

and talk to the ten year old.

 

Your dad’s not in trouble.

It’s like in school when your teacher says

you probably shouldn’t be doing something.

 

The boy nods.

 

I shut the door.

 

The dad smiles, “Thank you

for taking he extra time.”

 

It’s no problem.

 

 

 

Rumor

 

 

Yesterday, my brother, and the rest of his county's patrol, were told to expect their pink slips today.