television detective serials and the end of childhood innocence

in calm contentment we could review

shoot outs bank robberies all the rest

secure in the knowledge that the hero would come through

that rationo legalism is the best

 

then one day in the late 70's

kojak was shooting at some thugs

i was relaxed in all my certainties

until kojak went over like a sack of spuds

 

and here's the rub he did survive

to keep the streets of new york free of human vermin

my sensibilities died that night

i could never put my faith in pop culture again