Saturday, August 13, 2011

August 13, 2011 - 0515

This one is late for a couple of reasons. First, is that it covers two days. An eventful two days. And second is because it's fairly lengthy. I had to start a new Moleskine just to finish writing it out. Not that I filled 192 pages with this one, but I was almost at the end of my old one and this ran five pages.

The style is a Burns Stanza or Standard Habbie. Easy rhyme sequence and simple syllabic structure. And, with as much as I had to cover I needed something easy to follow.

Two Days Busy


We had a shift of three once more
Bars open late. What's in store?
We wonder walking out the door
It's slow until about half way
A drunk man peeing on a door
Caught dead to rights. Not much to say

Handcuffed and taken in a charged
In booking to the toilet barged
His bladder from the beer enlarged
In wallet found a gram of coke
The state was called about his charge
A felony is not a joke

His friend had fake ID in hand
Plans for leaving us were canned
"Stay with us" we did demand
A call to states attorney made
Transport them to Waukegan-land
To a gray jail cell I'm afraid

Two arrestees head to court
Me leave on time? I did abort
that idea. Day shift was short
Both were kept after judges call
I left for home and sleeping port
Almost 12 hours overall

Friday there were but two on shift
A full moon lets the crazies drift
And gives my tired bones a lift
That, and a large iced coffee drink
Lots of people through which to sift
Our first call put us on the brink

A business man. A fake ID.
The kid confronted tried to flee
With owner following angrily
He caught up, but by car was pulled
The car kept going down the street
And owner on the pavement rolled

They chased them down on motor-bikes
All streaking through the inky night
The young man trying to take flight
But wisely he did finally stop
We show up and arrest on sight
The joys of being a local cop

A bong and beer in car were found
Offender did not make a sound
When told the car would be impound
Three students all were in the car
Good schools, but no sense abound
They might be free had they gone to a bar

Kid one from Stanford college nigh
And two, from Berkeley, almost cried
Three was a Wisconsonite
He caught the charge that was most harsh
First two released to parents sighs
The third one given tickets charged

I tried my best to make the pinch
You'd think when busy it'd be a cinch
And drunks arrested in a clinch
But four stops got me nothing fast
I gave not even a inch
But luck tonight had long since passed

With five arrests in just three days
Those working a deserve some praise
Something more than a turn of phrase
They all were working as  a team
When young ones came and made their plays
All comes together like a dream

Thursday, August 11, 2011

August 11, 2011 - 0500

Amazingly, it looks like my computer is going to cooperate for an on-time publish of today's poetry. Fingers crossed it will keep this up all week.

Tonight we had three guys working, which is a rarity around here lately. It's usually me and one other guy, so when I saw the extra it made me both smile and pensive. Extra man power is always welcome, but it also means I have no excuse to leave and back up the other officer. I'm stuck listening to my peer rant and rave about whatever is bugging him.

I captured the highlights in a rondel. Easy rhyme and syllable structure, unlike a traditional sonnet. Sonnets always give me fits, and I'm not sure why. But ones like this, which are close to a sonnet form, are no problem. The struggles of artists, I know.

Three On, First Night Back


At first it seemed a good idea
And is, when you just do your job
Ticket an ambulance? Let's be clear
That just makes you look like a knob

Outside you cannot have your beer
Not sober or a drunken slob
At first it seemed a good idea
And is when you just do your job

Be cool and you are out of here
Headed home, if you shut your gob
Felony charges hang on your cob
Off to county you'll go so clear
At first, it seemed a good idea

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

August 10, 2011 - 0930

Man, do I feel like a fool. I've been home and only had a few minor chores to take care of and I didn't even post what I had written...last week. Sorry about that everyone. I have it all written out and so here it is.

This is a poetry style called a Dizain. It's French in origin, and has a 10 line structure, 8-10 syllables per line and an easy to follow rhyme pattern. The one that I wrote is about another nice and busy night at work and the many wacky things I saw that night.

A Good Working Weekend


Multiple puking was first on the list
One guy, back and forth, in the dark alley
Another guy peeing could not be missed
Thought he was hidden down in a valley
Caught, his pants fell - there's no dilly-dally
My second drunk driver in as many nights
It makes me happy when none of them fight
He hit a parked car as he pulled over
Refused the breath test, 'cause he knows his rights
Nice enough guy, but also not sober

Saturday, August 6, 2011

August 6, 2011 - 0500

Tonight was much, much better than the night before. There were lots of people all about, and they stayed for most of the night. This in turn, gave me lots of opportunity to make stops, talk to people, and eventually arrest someone. Which I did.

It was my second stop and I cashed in with it. The driver was pretty hammered, but mostly in control of himself. If only he'd turned on the headlights...

This is a Cyhydedd Fer Sonnet. There wasn't any real information regarding the origins, only the rhyme sequence. It's a set of eight rhyming couplets, with roughly eight syllables per line. Straight forward and easy.

Fun (For Me) Saturday Night


The weather was warm, made me sweat
Runs down my back where I can't get

The town was busy as could be
So I went out, a drunk to see

My first car stop had lights on high
She was sober, we said good bye

Second stop had no lights at all
Two times the limit; he took the fall

He was sent out into the night
And in my car I did take flight

My third stop was just simply lost
He went his way with laughter tossed

Nothing makes my night more cheery
Than arresting someone drunk and beery

Friday, August 5, 2011

August 5, 2011 - 0500

In a last ditch effort to get this out, here is some free verse I put down regarding slow nights. I know it's like hearing a stuck record, but most nights here go off without a hitch. Enjoy.

Thursday in 20 Lines


My usual coworker was off today
He keeps things interesting when here
His replacement is...adequate
But being part-time makes him reluctant to engage

A typical Thursday in our quiet town
Meaning a slooow first night back
My peer  bent my ear until one A.M.
I only got a two hour nap before work

One car stop yielded a student
Lost, but in control of his faculties
Second stop was more promising
But he was honest; and not drunk

I followed a drunk, shirtless man home
They usually pee somewhere along the way
He kept taking off and putting on his shirt
Nobody wanted to see that. No body.

Tomorrow night, Friday night, should be better
Busier town, more things moving, more potential
As long as things go smoothly I'll have fun
If there are problems, I will not be amused

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

August 2, 2011 - 0500

Looks like I'll actually get to publish twice in one day! *fingers crossed*

This set of lines is in the Spanish Quintain (Quintilla) style. Five lines in an eight syllable, set rhyme structure. Simple and classic. And not too bad to write in either.

I was told tonight that I was not to be trusted. This was third hand information, first spoken by a member of my department. He (I can say he, since we don't have any sworn female officers) is in such a mood lately that all of the command staff, of which I happen to be a part of, are out to harshly punish those in patrol. Not only that, since he's the only one who does any work, no one else is worthy either. He's a one man police department! It got me thinking about his attitude and what possible outcomes there could be from his attitude and actions.

Untrustworthy(?)


At work I am now an outcast
By one who thinks of wrongs done past
But I'm too new to feel his ire
His attitude makes others tire
If it keeps up he just won't last

Because I am the boss of some
I'm out to make punishment come
swiftly down on those below me
Everyone around here can see
His constant whining makes them numb

He's never happy here at work
And everyone thinks he's a jerk
If he could just go with the flow
And not make everything a show
Then being here would be a perk

I ignore him and keep growing
All the while I'm smiling, knowing
The more he acts like a big ass
Showing my boss he has no class
Out the door is where he's going

August 1, 2011 - 0500

Actually, August 2, 2011 at about 0150. Sometimes, things get in the way. Like life away from the streets. A couple of days off were complicated by at-home repairs that came out of the blue and needed immediate addressing. These have been taken care of, and we are all much happier at home for it.

Also, it seems that Google/Blogger have decided to let me publish today. Or my desktop is feeling generous. Either way, here it is from last night.

Looking to southeast Asia, we find a style called the Ya Du. It has a simple, Haiku-like structure, with a staircase rhyme sequence that is both fun and challenging. This one gives another look at what really doesn't go on in our town on a Sunday night.

Hot Days, Slow Nights, Back to Work


Lots of email for me
My four days seemed long
But these were hot days
My Ways were too short
And when I return there's nothing to report

Driving in the slow town
Deep sweat frown on faces
AC down. I understand.
We'll hand over money soon
Hoping for relief tomorrow afternoon.