by the verdict
those twelve came back in ten minutes
guilty on all counts they said
I fell down
all I did was act like a dog one day of my life
it was playful barking on all fours at her heels
chasing her naked with that leash around my neck
through the park
until she jumped in the lake
I thought she was playfully flailing
acting
like she couldn't swim
and as I couldn't swim with
this leash and ball in my mouth and the chain dragging
hell
I thought the pond was shallow
it was
the pond of jurors consisted
of her three nieces an uncle
two close friends
of hers
and a classmate in high school
I was ******
until they found her in Tijuanna three years later tricking
on Ice and burritos
they let me go that October without
any apology