The taste of metal an oil
Why I hung up my badge
I have been hated and despised
My life all but destroyed due to lies
Accused of crimes I didn’t commit
guilty until proven innocent
persecuted in the news
for doing my job wearing the blues
I faced them all with nothing to hide
They scoffed at me calling it foolish pride
When I needed her most she wasn’t there
My heart broke the silent air
I had done nothing wrong I had served the law
Even so the stress piled up my family could lose it all
What could I do for my wife and children what would be best?
I sat for hours sidearm in mouth thinking of eternal rest
I knew if I did I would be condemned
I would gladly burn in hell to save them
My children, hated and bullied at school
My wife refused to divorce me and was called a fool
Death threats in the mail and over the phone
Made me glad that they had gone left me to face it alone
Pulled back the hammer heard the click and cock
Squeezing the trigger sound of keys in the lock
The pain and regret was clear to see on her face
With trembling lips she spoke with haste
“please put that away,” she said as she cried
“The children want to come back home, they’re waiting outside.”
“together we can face this”
She forcefully began to insist
the barrel, remove from my mouth had left the taste of metal and oil
tears on my face I said “I though if I did this you would be free from all the turmoil”
“they would leave all of you alone if I was dead”
“all it would take was one bullet through my head”
“please don’t go, please don’t leave us”
“I’m sorry I know leaving you to face this alone was treasonous”
“I was unsure of the truth, the news insisted your actions were unjust”
“but now I know, from the start you should have had my trust”
The pistol was made safe and put away
The bonds of family became stronger on that dark day
More time past and the one day
the phone rang a call from the D.A.
“I have news for you” he began with a huff
“the grand jury said there is no evidence of any crime” he said with a gruff
The news paper called, the same one that wanted my head
They asked for a comment this is what I said
“in this day and age it’s a shame that reporters are no longer unbiased no longer seek the truth”
“I find that using rumors, speculation and lies to sell papers distasteful and very uncouth”
Offence was taken the reporter became pissed
“I wrote what I was told, what the accusers said” she did insist
“I couldn’t reach you for a comment I called several times” she continued
“we wanted your side before the news was issued”
“I have an answering machine and caller I.D. my phone is listed your excuses have become palled ”
“according to the call logs from the phone company this is the first time you or your paper have called”
She stuttered and sputtered defending herself using freedom of the press
She said that any claim of lies I would make agents her or the paper their lawyers would legally address
I laughed and told her to “fuck off” as she hung up the phone in anger
Feeling relieved it was all over the truth came out all the lies no longer posed any danger
Time has gone by several years have passed
Now all the anger and hate that fill my heart has dissipated at last