Poetry

THE EMPTY COP

Once a cop, now he mows grass.He was once fearless and brave,now he fishes off the bridge andsells oysters to local bars.

Not his shiny patrol carbut his wife’s old sedan,not a sheriff’s starbut sticky sand.

He still dreams of his siren asthe lawn mower rumbles.Rich people’s gardens are hislast assignment.

Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer
Tatiana Rebecca Shrayer, 13
Brookline, Massachusetts

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Stone Soup · Children’s Art Foundation · Since 1973