obey the rules

the prospect
of prison frightens
you. so you obey
the rules.
traffic signals,
for one.
you pay your taxes
on time,
your bills. you
are not acting out
with road rage,
although at
times it seems
to be a reasonable
response.
you are a responsible
person. besides,
you have no widdling
skills
which one needs
in the slammer.
your last fight was
in the ninth grade
and it was with
a girl. you lost.
you are not a great
socializer, so
the yard where they
lift weights and trade
cigarettes for
magazines would
be an awkward
place to be.
you have no tattoos
or gang
affiliations.
you have a library card
and belong to
triple A
and the AARP.
when you look at
a bar of soap, you
don't think about
sex, or a knife,
you think about
soap suds and bubbles,
of being fresh
and clean for
the day ahead of
you. you would not
do well in prison.
so you obey the rules.