This morning I saw the paper
And learned he was up for a hearing
On a state's motion
On a state's motion
To revoke, probation
On his daughter's birthday
Having no money
He tucked a single red rose from HEB
Under his shirt
And got caught
That was not in the paper
And so I went to court
More for support
Than for the help that I could give
A gaggle of lawyers
Clerks, bailiffs,
Probation officers, paralegals
And secretaries,
Busy with papers
To seal the fate of the men
And women
In orange and purple jumpsuits
whose name
Was on the papers
To seal the fate of the men
And women
In orange and purple jumpsuits
whose name
Was on the papers
Lawyers,
Papers in hand, scrutinized
Papers in hand, scrutinized
A glance at the client,
A shaking of the head,
And huddling in a corner
As the court's production line
Progressed
Progressed
Explaining, but not fully understood
Walking to the dais, and pointing here or there
On the paper,
Copping a plea
Yes, I understand, your honor
He said, standing there
The judge scribbled
On a paper
Which the clerk took, and
Tucked away in a folder
which she filed
And another, for the lawyer's briefcase
And then, in the end,
The lawyers, clerks, bailiffs
And secretaries
Left with their papers
Those papers, and orders, filed on a shelf
To be forgotten
Like the defendants
For years
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