that is all I got
the 22 stuck in my seventh rib
his face
a caricature
of a man in ***** hose

he acting too nervous I started
to grab for the gun
thought better
this might be it

let me pose a situation to him
as I thought of what might be
disarming

thought of god  themes
nursery rhymes
big bad wolf  
is all that came to mind

discarded that
all this
in an instant
flashing

a muzzle so far quieted so
on a roll
I said you
look familiar

like my great uncle
he was  a great scoundrel
swam out
during prohibition

on the river
he was twelve
brought back kegs of
beer and whisky

made in one night
more than his dad did
in a week
of work for the system

gave his mom half to
buy things
and keep the lights
on

this was when electricity had first
made her wires out
to the hills
of Tennessee

he started to leave and I said
bless you son
I know your predicament
he had tears

as he shouted
shut the **** up
old man