Gotta Have A Code

By Reece Hirsch

Which TV character’s loss do I mourn?    Well, there’s Jim Rockford, Tony Soprano, Vic Mackey and the entire cast of “Northern Exposure.”  But I have to say that I’m still mourning the loss of Omar Little of “The Wire,” as portrayed by the great Michael K. Williams.

And so, partially due to an unusually hectic week and partially from sheer laziness, I’m going to reprise this tribute to Omar in verse that I posted here at Criminal Minds in January 2011:

The Ballad of Omar Little

This is the story of the outlaw Omar Little

The man, the legend, the poet, the riddle

He made his living robbing crack dealers wealthy

With a crew that was tough, well-armed and stealthy

In court, a lawyer accused Omar of exploiting the culture of drugs

Saying that robbing dealers still made him one of the thugs

Omar replied, "I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase, but we're the same

Two different players, but it's all in the game"

Omar loved Brandon and he didn't care who knew

Their love was tested, and turns out it was true

Brandon was captured and tortured by Barksdale's crew

They wanted Omar's hideout but Brandon refused

Stringer Bell's boys struck back at Omar

Taking a shot at him outside church from afar

They blasted away, but Omar did not go down

The only casualty was his mama's Sunday crown

But fair is fair and right is right

And even a fool knows not to involve Omar's mama in such a fight

If you come at the king, you best not miss

So Stringer moved to the top of Omar's most-wanted list

In dapper Brother Mouzon Omar found an unlikely ally

Mouzon quickly concurred that Stringer must die

Omar pumped his sawed-off shotgun and Mouzon drew a bead

And when the smoke cleared, all Omar said was, "Indeed"

But you can't wage war with everyone

If you hope to live many days in the Baltimore Sun

Like so many gunslingers before him who achieved renown

A kid trying to make a name shot Omar Little down

Omar played the game hard, but he played by his rules

He never robbed civilians like those other fools

And so, to Omar I dedicate this ode

Because, in the end, yo, man gotta have a code