Police - A Morning Train Poem by Paul Warren

It was an ordinary morning at the Salisbury Interchange
People going to work or study, there was nothing strange
But one lady knew there was something wrong
A man she had noticed before and was looking strong
She told the station master who summoned the police
David and his partner got the call to restore her peace

They booked off there and spoke to her of her concern
So decided to check him out and why he gave her a turn
As they approached he moved away and pulled his knife
David worked behind a decision which him cost his life
He grabbed his arms and tried to pulled him down
The man was strong and thrust his knife in violence found

The knife entered David’s chest piercing his heart
He dropped to the ground and his last minutes did start
The offending man ran away and further assistance came
David was loaded up in an ambulance to hospital was their aim
The scene was sorted out and back to the Elizabeth Station we went
The next call we received was that David’s life was spent

We found the malefactor hiding at a friend’s house
He was arrested and given the opportunity to espouse
Why he had decided that morning to take a life
When all that was needed was to explain the strife
And why he was stalking the woman that morning
Using the knife against the police without a warning

Some things stand out to me from that day
David’s wife not being able to see him that way
Reporters wanting to interview her at home
When decency was for them to leave her alone
Of the grief we all felt for a comrade now lost
And how since then we have all counted the cost

So a family lost a husband and father
We all lost a friend and one who was a martyr
His father had to tell his wife by phone
As in England with friends was visiting home
We had a funeral all marching slowly
And the black draped band playing oh so lowly

It has been over a decade and life goes on
His family has done it tough with David gone
Whilst the rest of us had to carry on with it
Facing our duties with a dangerous fit
Whilst David has joined our 61 sacred
South Australians whose duty their life has ended

© Paul Warren Poetry