the court makeover ala my fair lady

having never owned a suit

or a pair

of dress shoes,

or a dress shirt, or tie,

or a belt,

his lawyers take measurements

of the prisoner,

then run up to J.C. Penny's

to buy him

appropriate court wear

for the trial.

a barber comes in

to give him a nice haircut,

with a part on the side.

then a makeup artist

from Sephora arrives

with mascara, blush and concealer,

to hide

the scars and tattoos

on his face, the tear drop

under his eyes.

the guns and knives

on his neck.

they use a diction coach 

to help him with his

manner of speaking,

having him repeat phrases

like no your honor, not

guilty. i'm a father, a son,

a brother, a hard worker,

a good husband most of the time

and an all around

good guy.

they tell him to stop using

the word yo,

in every sentence

and to put on a pair of work gloves.

it takes weeks, but by

the time

the gavel is struck,

his lawyers gather around him

and proclaim,

by George, i think

he's got it.