the last swallow of Hennesey lingering conspicuously in the corner of the bottle
a empty sandwich bag corner or a full sandwich bag corner and nothing to roll with
a empty pack of Newports, jug of kool aid and/or the conspicuous lack of women
at the party he waited all week to attend
closing time
the spectre of a closed office door before the bad news
the security escort out the building
text messages that don’t include the words fucking, weed or party
(or at least an acronym of similar affectation)
the collection plate
another man’s photo saved in the gallery of his girl friend cell phone
the silent vacancy on the bed side table of his unlocked cell phone
“period panties” & a “side chick’s” positive pregnancy test results
payroll deductions of any kind
(including but not limited to FICA, garnishments, and child support)
dudes in shirtless Instagram photos or Facebook/Twitter profile pics
a empty wallet
the ominous red and blue kaleidoscope whirling behind him
or
the ominous red and blue kaleidoscope conspiring
with the screams of women around his homeboy’s cadaver
the business end of a pistol, a baton or the consternate reflective silver of wrist shackles
the back seat of a cruiser
his best friend’s signature on statements in the discovery packet
his mother’s eyes when they hand down a guilty verdict
the prosecuting attorney’s smile
a public defenders apathetic posture
the blackness of the robe & heart of a judge
mandatory over sentencing
the seat back and dingy floorboard of the transport vehicle upstate
razor wire, miles upon miles of concrete, steel doors and communal lavatories
reception/orientation rules, visitation regulations, alphanumeric inmate identification
“shit on a shingle” and the pail off white gunk plopped on their meal tray
reflective surfaces that catch the shame and panic in their incarcerated eyes
the arrogant glare of a correction officer at roll call
the hurried penmanship in “dear john letters” or the absence of letters at all
letters:
“regretfully informing you of your grandmother’s passing”
“regretfully informing you of your parole board denial”
“happy birthday daddy, I wish you were home”
regret,
hopelessness,
fear,
captivity,
the misery of a lonesome heart held hostage
by past infractions that feel like more folklore and fairy tale
then a felony offense
post commitment criminal history questions on job applications
food stamp application denials
minimum wage pay check stubs
clear heels on your daughter’s feet
a son who is a stranger that wears your eyes
unemployment denial letters
this poem and the tragic fact for some of us
far too many of us
know far too well
that this land is not our own
we are hunted in the daylight
taken away
give away
have stolen
our freedom
and the callused cynicism & apathy
of the obedient, ambitious or just plain lucky
who will never know
the things we see
the pain we feel
and the nights we cry ourselves to sleep…
damn, dude. so much of this i just want to quote because i love it so much. just know this is fantastic. pretty sure i need to hear you perform it.
Wow. Things a white woman hates to see as well.
I have no words. This is amazing.
thank you, you humble me with your praise.