In an American city,
I once thwarted
a mugger by using
only German phrases.

He pulled a gun,
demanded my wallet.
“Sprechen Sie deutsch?”
I inquired back.

Waving his gun,
he urged me to hurry.
“Mach mal nicht so
einen auf dicke Hose.”

He put away his gun;
said I was crazy.
“Der hat doch nicht
alle Tassen im Schrank!”

was my only reply
as he sulked
sad and sideways
down cracked, one-way streets.