Belated Elegy for a Tough Jew
—a poem by Howie Good

Belated Elegy for a Tough Jew

If it were now,
you would’ve gone
to the police,

but there were
no laws then,

just this guy
in a leather jacket,

and when you
wore that,

nothing bad
could happen
to you.

_
Howie Good is a journalism professor at SUNY New Paltz, the author of five poetry collections, and a Contributing Editor for The Commonline Journal. His most recent book is Cryptic Endearments from Knives Forks & Spoons Press. Other books include Elephant Gun from Dog on a Chain Press, Strange Roads from Puddles of Sky Press, and Death of Me from Pig Ear Press. His poetry has been nominated multiple times for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net anthology. Access his blog Apocalypse Mambo.