Chained Linkage

September 3, 2012  (I was 67)

         Chained Linkage

Walking in the shadow of chain link fence

bordering the perimeter of the park

separated from a culvert ditch

and another fence on its opposite bank

vision grounded narrowly ahead

it is not difficult to fathom a prison yard

It is not difficult to call up crimes

in my life of criminal behaviors

for which many in this world would

incarcerate and torture my infidelity

   I have believed in the wrong religion

   I have believed in no religion

   I own banned books

   I foster conspiracy theories

   I have discussed crimes my government commits

   I am aware of crimes my government commits

     (and I tell no one)

   I don’t pledge allegiance

   I have pledged allegiance

   I have trafficked in contraband

   I don’t care who marries whom

   I’ve been divorced

   I remarried

   I own property

   I eat the wrong meat

     (with the wrong hand)

   I don’t cover my head

   I am unaware of what it takes to save myself

Yet here I am on the park side of the fence

On the park side of the fence

walking in the shadow of chain link

is the only sentence I serve

for the crimes I share with others

the other side of my fence