They arrested her because she owed

Back child support,

Took her out of a shack in South Caroline.

They cleared the house,

Her granny and four grown men up in there,

Along with her twin sister, as skin and bone as she was.

Her hair hung down long

Below her hips,

Her jeans barely hung on to her

As the officer searched them.

A pocket knife on a heavy chain

And one nickel

Was all the officer found, and a cigarette,

Which she smoked on the way

To the back of the cop car.

And we’d all like to tell ourselves,

That a study between these twins,

Not separated at birth,

But re-environmented by this fork in their divergent trails,

Will show the incarcerated one

To emerge, as better off,

With her GED,

Her long hair doffed and coiffed, 

And styled and taught 

To dress like a lady,

And to talk like one ready for an interview 

As a bank teller

Or some other respectable profession.

But nevertheless,

Whether it’s the bank branch manager

Or the pimp on the street

Callin’ the shots and takin a cut,

At least this gal had someone

She could tell to go get her shoes and socks

And to put ‘em on her feet

Before she went to jail,

But after she got out,

Not so much, and 

She’s still gonna owe that child support.

-jenn