Trash Bandit

Ellen Rowland's prompt was to use as many words from the 4-4-2026 NYT Connections puzzle as possible. Out of 16 words, I used 12.

Trash Bandit 

Bands on his tail
give the bandit away
then the face mask
black against white
The clever marauder,
where is his cape?
He doesn’t lie
or bluff, just does
what he’s shaped for
Those clever little hands

You want to boot him
or spit when you see
trash strewn all over
the driveway

The ruckus jolted
you awake, steel shield
banging on the ground— 
you, sleeping, sweating
on the screened-in porch
during summer dog days