THE THIN BLUE LINE

[Maureen K Clifford]

THE THIN BLUE LINE

She was over the death and destruction and pain
and the need to look over her shoulder.
Seemed nothing they did would ever break the chain
of violence, each day she grew older.
The Blue leather chair was showing signs of age,
on the desk before her the incident page
awaited her signature – blind to her rage.
From the tree of life leaves started falling.

If these walls could talk what a story they’d tell
of a day in the life of a copper.
A vain hope still surfaced occasionally. Well
at least she did nothing improper.
The old world was fading - now pure hatred reigned.
No honour in thieves and of those they restrained
there was no civility, no shred remained;
and each day became less enthralling.

She thought of her Gramps and remembered her Dad,
both policemen who’d been proud to serve.
She remembered their stories, recalled why she joined,
a career that she thought would not swerve.
And yet here she sat just ten years down the track
and her thoughts turned to leaving and not looking back
for each day was a trial. One she just couldn’t hack.
It was time to leave and stop stalling.

She got called to an incident down at the docks,
a man armed and dangerous there.
She jumped in the squad car with others thus called
and tried not to give in to despair.
She checked that her weapon was ready to roll.
They tried to talk him down, to gain some control
but their words of reason did not him console
and rifle shots saw bodies sprawling.

They gathered together at the fading of the light
to pay their respects, It was hard when
the sweet scent of roses drifted ‘neath starlight
and bird song was heard through the walled garden.
They mourned for a comrade who gave up her life.
They mourned for a daughter, a mother and wife.
They mourned for a world that seemed beset with strife
and the loss to all there was appalling.


She was part of the death and destruction and pain
and her bones now in dark earth would molder.
Seemed nothing they did would ever break the chain
of violence, but she’d never grow older.
The Blue leather chair still showed signs of age
an incident report form waited to engage
a pen with no lid to scrawl words on its page.
A closed case now – no need for recalling.

The thin blue ranks once more are in mourning.

Maureen Clifford © 06/11

[mummsie]

Wow, such a strong message here Maureen.I have so much respect for our boys and girls in blue and their job would have to be up there as one of the toughest.
Once again, very well written.
Sue

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Sue - the latest death on the Gold Coast is a tragedy..your heart goes out to the wife and children and even more so when you realize that she is also a member of the force. That was to a degree what sparked this one - I was wondering what would be going through her head now as far as her career went when she has children who have now lost one parent. Policing is not a 9 to 5 safe occupation any more than our armed forces is a safe occupation, and even less so these days.

[Neville Briggs]

Marty, I was wondering why you would get that much attention from the gendarmes, I never did, I was just a boringly good kid ( sort of )


In a way Maureen, the murdered police officer is just another person in that group of forgotten people, the victims of crime.
A fallen cop makes the news, other " unimportant " people go largely unnoticed. It's still a stark tragedy like you have depicted.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Marty - Your local copper sound like the one I grew up with - a decent bloke who had all of us kids bluffed in the days when every one knew every one. He to would front up to your parents, give you a clip around the earhole if you needed it and crime was never an issue. The worst thing was the odd letterbox blown up on cracker night, penny bungers dropped behind the fisherman fishing off the old Hornibrook Highway. He even used to patrol randomly the spots where you went for a kiss and a cuddle and would send you home with stern admonitions about the dangers of sex before marriage and having respect for others.

He was a nice bloke - we thought him an old fart as kids do but thinking back I doubt he was any older than his mid 30's and he was a Dad himself.