Verdict

Sitting in the jury box
With eleven others
We took two days
of deliberation to decide
upon a verdict
I sat as stoically
as possible while
my sweaty hands
gripped my knees
The judge deferred
to his clerk
He unsealed the
manilla envelope
and read out
guilty of first degree
murder
One by one
the judge asked us
if this was our verdict
Affirmatively we answered
were thanked and dismissed
I could hear crying
and looked ahead
as we walked out