A visit with James Lee Burke novelist

Takes you to a mangrove swamp.
Gators, coons, egrets.
And popup catfish bubbles.
Motor launch wakes.
Smell of fish bream..
Fish bait shack of
Detective Dave Robichaud
Kicked out of New Orleans PD


For indiscretions together with
His best buddy Clete Purcell.
They get their man, in crazy ways.
When Clete is not busy
Chasing bail jumpers as P. I.
Or seeking out his
Illegitimate Daughter.

Or some new motel fling.

Hot short-term vixen.


Applying his massive size
And scarred fists.
When the job requires.

Pink Cadillac. Po’Boy sandwiches.

Office out of a lunchbox.



Dave is an alcoholic.
Knows the drill  
Has friends who help.
And also with the
Horrific dreams of terrifying
Tunnels of Viet Nam.


There will usually be some
Rich local family holding
Most of the chips.
Living, eating, driving, dealing
Fancy and entitled. Play acting.
Perhaps wife was an old Flame of.. Dave’s.

Drunk, he piled up
A lot of that kind of mess.
Sober he landed upon all of the answers.
Approaches to victorious arrests.
And sweeter nights near
Lake Pontchartrain.

Background soundtrack

Egrets in love, singing.