The shadow of the cable is easy to see. So is the shadow cast by his standing slightly askew to the light. But the belly still looks square and boxy. It looks like the officer has something under his coat, other than himself, that runs from behind his back and around his stomach. Maybe a corset or a back brace.

[I suspect it's something more like a notepad. - Dave]

Or a citation book. Your enlargement is much clearer than mine.

No. It is the shadow of the ring-supported, lead-covered telephone cable.

[Incorrect. - Dave]

Your limerick is as entertaining and well constructed, in the proper limerick fashion, as any found in the G. Legman-edited collection of over 4,400 limericks. Well done, sir.

"There once was a girl from Nantasket,
Who carried her milk in a basket.
But the milk, it would seep,
And then she would weep,
"Oh dear, I must have a bad gasket."

Obviously this isn't one of them.

Nantasket Beach is part of the town of Hull, which is a peninsula sticking into Boston Harbor from the harbor's southern shore. Hull looks to me sort of like a giant seahorse with bill that widens from narrow to bulbous. Your interpretations may vary. In any event, my best guess is that this photo is looking west from the very narrow base of the seahorse's bill, toward the bulbous part of the bill, with the high ground in the background being present-day Fort Revere park.

What is making that cop's jacket bulge out, other than his gut? Looks like he's hiding a box lunch under there, the bulge is quite angular.

Is that a Cop stationed there? Crime must be really bad.