in the jump

he used to tell me about prison.
being in the jump.

how he got caught, and that it wasn't
his fault.

he talks about the long days and longer
nights, getting fat on
three salt starched meals a day.

he wasn't one to be out in the yard
pumping iron.

he preferred the comfort of the cell.
cigarettes,
tv. a card game.

a pillow behind his back.
you play the game, he said.

you get religion, get a job
in the kitchen. tell a joke or two
to the guards.

pretend to be good and

keep your nose clean. before
long you're back out on the street.

but more careful this time around
so as not
to get caught.

there is no rehab, he says. we're
the same coming out as we
were going in.

but smarter, much smarter.
no doubt.