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FAMILY VISIT IN MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON
for Judy and Harriet Clark
by Israel Halpern
first toy made for this visit
egg-shaped yarn ball toss
from child to parent back and forth
bunched up in palm’s pocket
push-thrown across dayroom between them
one catches with a smile
sends back between upper hills
above Harris Road in a prison visit
Mom goes deep into Center
she’s back to the warning track,
no one was to be killed
she was betrayed
She’s Mom, back at the wall
going, going, she reaches across the visitor’s table
past Brinks’ trucks dropping off payrolls
she goes way back in deep deep Centerfield
jumps, gets a glove on it, toy in her hand
that one may just be able to get out of here
No !
She’s got it for the out