He was a “Flim flam man” <br />Cheated folks for a livin <br />In the town of Spokane <br />He took, 'stead of givin <br /> <br />One day came a drifter <br />A beautiful lady you see <br />A professional grifter <br />Born of gypsy ancestry <br /> <br />'Twas destined they’d meet <br />Flim flam man ‘n the Gypsy <br />To play out a game of deceit <br />After a few shots they got tipsy <br /> <br />He offered to pay for her drinks <br />Pulled out a round roll of money <br />A twenty covered one dollar bills <br />Said, “I’ll pick up the tab honey” <br /> <br />She smiled, “Oh, if you insist” <br />He gave barmaid a one for a twenty <br />An old scam he could not resist <br />“Keep the change, I’ve got plenty” <br /> <br />He asked Gypsy, “What do you do? ” <br />“back in Detroit I’m a Practical Nurse” <br />He said, “That’s great, good for you” <br />As he snuck his hand in her purse <br /> <br />Seeing what he’d done she turned red <br />Reached into her coat for a snub ‘38 <br />Shot the poor “Flim flam man” dead <br />“Rot in Hell you sorry cheapskate! ” <br /> <br />She jumped off the barstool and ran <br />She’d escape with a small bit of luck <br />It was clear, she'd be leaving Spokane <br />She ran in the street ‘n was hit by a truck <br /> <br />Here's the moral, pardon my cliché <br />Truth be told, 'Crime just don't pay' <br /> <br /> <br />ROTMS<br /><br />Ray Lucero<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/flim-flam-man/
