I was born when they badged me,

all swaddled in Blue.

My outlook on life,

started anew.

 (full poem on link - click above)

To school they did send me,

the things for to learn.

To be fair with the people,

 and still be quite firm.

Certified I became,

an officer of law,

stumbling along,

the first year still raw.

My assignment was traffic,

exciting and new.

With police car and siren,

attention I drew.

Red lights would whirl,

adrenaline would flow,

and then in the courtroom,

there would be a no-show.

Courts, lawyers and judges,

I came to know.

They couldn’t be hurried,

and all of them slow.

Miranda sneaked in,

a small card we carried,

to say peoples’ rights,

were not forgotten or buried

Life was now shift work,

my wife raised  the kids.

I dealt with people,

whose lives were on skids.

New methods came in,

did you coddle or kick?

When you turned a cheek,

were you hit with a brick?

Most times were fun,

others not good.

A comrade in casket,

at attention we stood.

The race is over ,

recruits are in place.

Retirement is here ,

another challenge to face.

Farewell parties are thrown,

accolades given.

A toast to the past,

the tears flow unbidden.

When the performance is rated,

I hope that they say,

each one made a difference,

in his own special way.