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Mike Hammer

I was a self-admitted misanthrope	 
unwilling to lose or drop a case.
I often threw a rope-a-dope
just to win; I never lose face.

I worked the dark streets
for dark, and even darker, clients
while the cops walked their beats,
shadows showing giants.

As far as I was concerned,
they were all a bunch of losers.
They were bad; they’d get burned.
The lot were boozers or bruisers.

I had caught a difficult case
The man was stabbed and shot.
He deserved it; he was debase,
but the perp would be caught.

The lawyer was my client,
he was dirty; the worst he could get.
Damn, he was mighty defiant!
Still, I didn’t think he did it.

He had no motive, but also no alibi.
So why were the cops after him?
He was a jerk, but had no reason to lie.
But for him the outlook was grim.

I might have to pummel every john
on the streets to get to the truth.
It wasn’t unpleasing to use my brawn
and I was a hellava good sleuth.

I’d search every city block.
I’d find the filthy little perp.
I’d find the lowlife and knock
the truth out of the twisted twerp!


26 August 2022
Start Sleuthing Poetry Contest 
Sponsored by Natasha L Scragg
https://www.rhymezone.com

Copyright © Linda Alice Fowler | Year Posted 2022

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Caren Krutsinger Date: 9/3/2022 1:19:00 AM In the fifties and sixties, "I might have to pummel every john on the streets to get to the truth. It wasn’t unpleasing to use my brawn and I was a hellava good sleuth." This was not only acceptable, but expected! Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 9/3/2022 6:51:00 AM Yes! The adults in my family seemed to think it was okay, as long as it was the "good guy" doing the pummeling. LOL Linda

Joseph May Date: 8/31/2022 2:35:00 AM I enjoyed your story of a sleuth looking for the perp in the mean streets, Very nicely done Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 9/1/2022 5:43:00 PM Always a pleasure to have you visit Joseph. Thank you for the kind comments! Linda

Sotto Poet Date: 8/30/2022 1:53:00 PM Linda, you are a fantastic private investigator. In this poem, you have done an excellent job of capturing the characteristics of the classic detectives. Superior for the win Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 8/30/2022 2:22:00 PM I thank you very kindly Lasaad. I enjoyed watching the antics of each of the PIs and hope I've captured their essence.Linda

Gershon Wolf Date: 8/27/2022 8:22:00 PM Wow, Linda! Sounds like you might have been an undercover detective yourself back in the day. You certainly know your way around the jargon! Great stuff! ~ Sam Spade Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 8/28/2022 7:12:00 AM I think it was the old black and white movies I used to watch with my folks, and books from my mother's library. They both loved a good who-dun-it and their favorites were the hard hitting/talking tough fellas - Bogart, Mitchum, Cagney, EG Robinson, and many others. LOL Thanks gw! laf

Mystic Rose Rose Date: 8/27/2022 12:50:00 PM You make a wonderful sleuth, If I were a twerp I'd stay away from you lol, excellent entry, winning wishes Linda Login to Reply Linda Alice Fowler Date: 8/27/2022 5:54:00 PM Hahaha Vie. I tried to capture the characteristics of these old style sleuths in these poems. I actually had a lot of fun writing them. I loved watching the old black and white movies with my father. Linda