when
the cop pulled me
over
I
handed him my
license.
he
went back
to radio in
the make
and model
of my car
and
get clearance on
my plates.

he wrote
the ticket
walked
up
handed it
to me
to 
sign.

I did
he gave
me
back the
license.

“how come
you
don’t
say
anything?
he asked.

I shrugged
my 
shoulders.

“well, sir,”
he
said, “have
a
good day 
and 
drive
carefully.”

I
noticed
some sweat
on his
brow
and the
hand
that held
the
ticket
seemed to
be
trembling
or
perhaps
I
was only
imagining it?

anyhow
I
watched him
move
toward
his
bike
then I
pulled
away…

when confronted
with
dutiful
policemen
or 
women
in rancor
I
have nothing
to
say
to them

for
if I
truly 
began
it would
end
in
somebody’s
death:
theirs or
mine

so
I 
let them
have
their
little
victories
which
they need
far
more
than 
I
do.