Thug

Danger lurks in the shadows!

He leans against the building,

In the shadows beyond the light.

Is he just enjoying his cigarette,

Or is he looking for a fight?

Greasy hair flops on his forehead,

Three days stubble on his chin,

Eyes as dead as yesterday's news,

Tall, and mean, and thin.

A cheap shiny suit and a narrow tie,

The weight of the gun comfortable under his arm,

A switchblade tucked into his back pocket,

He can't possibly be meaning no harm.

His jacket's hanging open,

Though the night is cold and raw.

He smokes his cigarette left-handed,

Keeping his right free for the draw.

His posture looks almost lazy,

But the restless eyes give the lie to that,

He has the appetites of a shark,

And the reflexes of a cat.

A car draws up to the dingy cafe,

On the other side of the street,

His nostrils flare, his eyes dilate,

The predator has scented his meat.

As the Don steps from his armoured car,

The killer walks into the light,

Presses the gun to the back of his head,

And blasts him to eternal night.

The killer doesn't run, he doesn't hide,

He simply walks away.

Sometimes he's the Hand of Fate.

Today? He really couldn't say.

© 2017 The Iron Horseman

Reviews

[BBP]

Completely in love with this one. The persona was so well laid out and the scene was painted with perfection.

Has to be one of the best one's I've ever read.

And before when I joked about not reading my other works due to my vulgar style, it was total bullshit, you would enjoy my works I'm guessing after reading yours! :) lol

Great write Iron, thanks for sharing.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, BB. You are right, your brand of vulgarity would not bother me one bit. It's morons who think that variations on 'eff' are the only available nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs who get on my nerves, along with those that believe aggression is a suitable substitute for intelligence.
There you go, that's my rant for the day! :D
Thanks for checking out my work. I will do the same.

[Nipplegrinder]

Good one, IH! You've a cadence, all your own.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, NG. I try!

[Serge Wlodarski]

Good tale. The guy probably deserved it.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Serge. Yes, no ambivalence there!

[Paul Bell]

Sometimes you just have to change the head of the family, just for the family's sake. But in the dead of night, predators wait. Could be fate.

[The Iron Horseman]

A poetic review, too! I love it. Thanks, Paul.

[Poetic License]

Wow! I think I'm in shock! Great surprise, not surprise ending. Holy moly. You nailed it

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, PL.