post-Christmas in Joplin, MO

gangster poetry

Went to the Joplin history musem today to pick up a book and wound up poking around for a while. There was a neat display on spook light, the ghostly glow emanating from what is thought to be the spirit of a Confederate officer looking for his head. Apparently the bastard was so big and mean they executed him by cannon instead of the standard firing squad.

The most striking display, however, were the photos and timeline of Bonnie & Clyde, who shot and killed a detective while hiding out in Joplin. Also included was a poem by Bonnie Parker entitled "Outlaws." For all I know this poem is widely known, but it struck me so much I copied it down on the back of one of the color-me-in Diplodicus papers near the musuem's exit.

Rather than type it all out I'll post the poem as I saw it in the museum.

winter in midtown

death by crossbow

While discussing the alarming murder rate in KCMO tonight at Chez Charlie's with Red I decided I was going to have someone shoot me through the heart with a crossbow bolt at 11:59:59 on New Year's Eve so that I will be the last official homicide of the year, and because the nature of my death will be so bizarre in comparison to the hundred-odd shootings, 10 stabbings, 5 bludgeonings and several unknowns the story will make the papers nationwide so everyone will be tuned in and sympathetic about the violence taking place in our fair metro area and possibly these sympathetic readers and government leaders will even turn to brainstorming about how to make things better, because the signs they're putting up along Troost don't seem to be helping much.