Black Cat Blues

Kevin Young

I showed up for jury duty—
turns out the one on trial was me.


Paid me for my time & still
I couldn't make bail.


Judge that showed up
was my ex-wife.


Now that was some
hard time.


She sentenced me
to remarry.


I chose firing squad instead.
Wouldn't you know it—


Plenty of volunteers
to take the first shot


But no one wanted to spring
for the bullets.


Governor commuted my sentence to life
in a cell more comfortable


Than this here skin
I been living in.
University of Virginia Virginia Quarterly Review
5 Boar's Head Place
PO Box 400223
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA 22903-3237
ISSN 2154-6932