cops surround
from all sides—
breath held...fuck it...
exhale...
serene myrcene—
quite the scene—
click clock click clock
another drag—
not to brag,
but i never got caught
toking,
not joking,
but once
by my mother.
all these years—
decades—later
the cops walk,
wave hi
as they pass me by
on their way to
make an arrest
while i continue to
get high on the
devil’s lettuce.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, August 27, 2026.
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: August 27th, 2026 08:27
- Comment from author about the poem: Part of the Wait. What?!? collection.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 19
- Users favorite of this poem: nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson), Doggerel Dave, Kevin Hulme
- In collections: Wait. What?!?.
Offline)
Comments9
It’s not legal in your state?
I live in Jersey. It is legal here...which is precisely why the cops waved as they walked past. But all those years of prohibition trained an immediate reaction into me, and legalization sadly did not magically erase it. 🤣 That lingering paranoia is what the poem is confronting...well, that and the irony of cops waving hello while I’m doing something that, at one time, would have gotten me in trouble immediately.
I have always thought it silly to arrest people for substances. Instead give them a safe place with medical supervision. Keep the price low so there is no incentive for crime and its possibility of contamination. I see no immorality in this but instead a benefit to society and the individual. A good write my friend about relying on luck.
I’m completely with you, Soren. Criminalization creates dangerous markets and punishes people instead of helping them. In my case, cannabis is legal here...so the irony is that the officers simply waved while my old prohibition-trained instincts were still preparing for trouble. That's what sparked the poem. Thankfully, another toke and the jitters went away! 🤣🌿💨🚨
Toke on
this is so dark, a fav
Thanks so much, Norman! Nothing like decades of prohibition-conditioned paranoia showing up uninvited for a perfectly legal smoke. 🤣🌿💨🚨
exactly
Wait! That could be Popeye smoking his pipe there! lol.
Indeed, Orchi! Apparently Popeye has discovered that not every useful green leaf comes in a can. This explains the pipe and the serenity. I’m not sure what else the pipe inspires...but damn, those forearms! 😂🌿💨🚨
What is it about the forearms? Wait - WCAT!! lol.
that really reminds me the psychedelic years of my youth...
Ah, Lorenz...I suspect your psychedelic years contain quite a few stories worth hearing! I’m glad this little encounter brought some of that old atmosphere drifting back. 🤣🌿💨🚨
Another didactic work presents itself, and after research expands my horizons. Thanks also for the atmosphere, Tristan. Ah, memories...
(Weed certainly wasn't legal during my heyday, and may have contributed to the paranoia sometimes associated with it's use).
Enjoyed the write.
Thank you, Dave! Expanding horizons while releasing a "cloud" of nostalgia sounds like a successful outing to me. I’m delighted it gave you both. 🤣🌿💨🚨
It's good the the Cops walk by. Although in the UK a Woman was arrested for Praying in the Street. Go figure.
I enjoyed your Poem . 👍
Much appreciated, Kevin. It was a surreal little moment…the officers simply carried on while my nervous system reacted according to laws that no longer exist here. 🌿💨🚨
My Pleasure.
I think everything should be criminal. More fun that way. Yeah that's me in the corner. Nonchalantly breaking the rules. Catch me if you can.
.............................. 🖤🖤🖤🏴🥀👍
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