I was jailbreaking
almost out
until my uniform snagged
on the barbed wire of the fence
I hung there limply
until I could
be taken down
the officer
was hinting
I’d be going
to the hospital
when a trash truck
passed by
and I pointed to say
that’s what
should take me
away
the police officers
kept me
in the car
too long
in the heat
until I started yelling
you wouldn’t leave a dog
in a hot car
with the windows up
why treat me
like less
is it because I said
I was trash
or because you agree
my first ride in a cop car
felt like it wouldn’t be my last
the seats were slippery slopes
I was tumbling down
when I had found a way
to lounge back there
with handcuffs on
I told the officer
that guy’s looking at me
and laughing
the cop looked over
looked back and said
now that’s who you would
call a ****
his temple bubbled with
as many fluid ounces of sweat
as my eyes cried
for my first ride
in a cop car
for calling my mom
a ****
for digging my nails
into my arm
when she hit me
and made me remember
she used to hit me
but told me
to forget
I told a dozen people
I did not want to **** myself
until the words became chalk
on the black asphalt of my mind
my fingers were so *****
from coloring inside
the lines of the lies
while I sat on a hospital gurney
with a security guard
who told me
I couldn't be alone
in the hospital bathroom
when the police
brought me
in like this
I couldn’t wash
any of this away