Legacy
He was acquainted
with the inside of a prison
well before his first stint
Six months of clutching
his mother’s hand
while visiting his father
sober and submissive
Visits came to an abrupt end
when two female guards
withdrew an ounce of smack
from the crutch of his mothers knickers -
a present for daddy.
The first time
he was strip-searched
directed to squat
penis dangling between his scrawny legs
and instructed
to don the prison issued brown tracksuit
he wondered
if this was to be his father’s
legacy to him
.
early morning flesh
heavy and sleep warm
skin, sheet creased
wade from your quick sand dreams
to the surface
where my tenderness
treads water..