Wednesdays we're important for faith
          Graduation Day          Active Duty Day          Death Day

Just to breathe     said the mother of Faith     the first year     an ordeal

It says foot for foot and burn for burn

                Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement
                as the saint would have it

I know that, and I know Le ciel est, par-dessus le toit,
           Mais après tout, I’m not Verlaine

Bound her hands with electrical cord, the young mother of three

Stabbed her, the young mother, 23 times, took her wedding ring

How can that be shriven

White is kitchen; Burnt Pink is night floor technician;
          inner yard, Forest Green

The suspect was 9

I said I’m all stirred up

Come nearer

                                     where death hangs on its solitary hook in the shed

Your sentence, not a metonymy for our sins

Me, I’m Catholic, so I was born guilty

I’ve always had the willies

Today it is hot as blue blazes and tonight it is going to be
          very very warm

Tomorrow it is going to be hot as blue blazes and tomorrow night
          very very warm

The women pass around a handmirror and a tube of lipstick
          they sit on the slab walk, talk and smoke

They pass a stuffed bunny from hand to hand
          for their turn in front of the camera

The church ladies are out on soul patrol
          they’ve got ditty bags for the prisoners

                      Poster: BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WOMEN’S PRISON
                                  THE BLACKER THE COLLEGE
                                  THE SWEETER THE KNOWLEDGE

Navy is housekeeping
Khaki is for peer tutor

The search for Molly is forty-five days old

If you were a felon
          you’d be home now
                                                               Cradle my head Sister

          until the last rivet of grief is secure