Mystified by James Lee Burke

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.
Applying his massive size
And scarred fists.
When the job requires.
Big pink Cadillac.
Dave is an alcoholic.
Knows the drill
Has friends who help.
And also with the
Horrific dreams of terrifying
Tunnels in Viet Nam.
There will usually be some
Rich local family holding
Most of the chips.
Living, eating, driving, dealing
Fancy and entitled. Play acting.
Using dastardly operatives.
Perhaps wife was an old Flame of Dave’s.
Drunk, he piled up
A lot of that.
Sober he landed upon all of the answers.
Keeping his badge.
Novel approaches  to victorious arrests.
Home to his beloved wife and daughter.
And sweeter nights near
Lake Pontchartrain.