Her face was an indifferent mask
As I questioned her about
The child she was surrendering.
She confirmed the neglect
As if she forgot to feed a dog.
We went on together playing
The unfeeling tramp and the annoyed
Young lawyer feeling the power
Of who he thought he was.
The questions narrowed and
She fidgeted, then squirmed, then
A few tears leaked and the boy
Playing lawyer woke up
When he saw what I was doing
And how I was doing it.
He fought me with thoughts of
Our mother, and pity, and mercy;
But the lawyer had to continue
Even if his voice lost the condescension.
He went on as the girl playing tramp
Began to sob then fell apart
When she said, “Yes,”
The boy became a man
Who has never forgiven the lawyer.