The sky was a cloudy gray dullness making dreary the town.
The sun in that nondescript dismal wore no smiley face but a frown
The road was a convoy of autos over the drab green moor,
And the snake oil man came driving—
Driving—driving—
The snake oil man came driving, up to Hotel Moderne door.
He’d a cowboy hat on his forehead, a bolo below his chin,
A coat of angus leather, and Levis of blue denim.
They fitted with never a wrinkle. His boots had those pointy toes.
And he drove his Lexus Hybrid,
His shiny red Lexus Hybrid,
His brand new Lexus Hybrid, thus none could admire his clothes.
Through the streets he piloted and steered his pretentious wheels.
He waved out the window and honked his horn, but no one fell head over heels.
He parked his car at the hotel, and who should be waiting there –
But the town’s lone policeman,
Jeff, the only policeman,
Ready to write a citation and do it with quite a flair.
The con artist’s brow – it furrowed – as he looked at the cloudy sky
Then looked at the Jeff, the policeman. “I’ve got something you want to buy.
It’ll make the sky turn sunny on such a dismal day.”
But Jeff wrote out a citation
A rather costly citation
Yes, Jeff wrote out a citation that the shyster had to pay.
What’s the citation for, you ask? Could be a bunch of different things. You know the type.
Honestly, I don’t know though. I write not knowing where I’m going. Then that dang 250 word limits bites. I hit 227 words and knew I couldn’t squeeze another Highwayman verse in with only 23 words remaining.
Yes, this is my contribution to the Unicorn Challenge. Write no more than 250 words using the photo prompt.
My apologies to Alfred Noyes who wrote the amazing melodramatic poem, “The Highwayman,” the first long story poem I fell in love with and memorized.
Hot Dogs and Marmalade 
A cool poem
This was very entertaining, Sally, and I wanted to read more. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read …. except for “The Highwayman”, that is!
Something different for the Uni Challenge. I liked it!
Definitely a little different! Thanks for your kind words
I love the variety people come up with on this challenge, and I love the poem, Sally.
I can see why you were so impressed with the Noyes poem and learned it by heart – so romantic!
And chose to model today’s post on its form, although the snake oil man couldn’t be further from romantic.
You’ve left me dreaming up fates for him…!
Yow!
Not so much an ear for poetry, but this evoked such rich emotional-imagery* for me.
Somehow (in my Reader’s mind) it resonated of ee cummings and Arthur C Clarke (?!?! ikr?)
Such an attractive manifestation of the things we dread and yet are fascinated by in life.
*if there is such thing!**
**sorry, of course, there is such a thing
OMG — to think that I’m channeling ee cummings (my absolute favorite poet) AND Arthur C Clarke is such a HUGE compliment
Hey, the snake oil man’s a person too!
Am I the only one who likes him, and his wild dress sense, that remind me of a very old song ‘Pink shoelaces’? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGgaZZl_GVg
Love the poem, Sally, love the different approach, love the creativity. Don’t love Jeff!
Oh c’mon — Jeff is just doing his job!
I have to admit, it was far more fun inventing the snake oil man — especially his outfit — than it was coming up with Jeff [yawn].
I love the song you shared. A new one for me but it fit perfectly.
This is delightfully differerent, Sally. More like this please!
Thanks, Keith! I just write in response to the photo — but I never know where it will take me
i had a subscription to Children’s Digest when I was a kid. One issue had a drawing of the highway man riding, riding and inside the poem. Wow! I never forgot it.
good for Jeff. I pictured him sort of like Matt Dillon.