Out of the Mouths of Bail Bondsmen

Little Joey arrived late
in life after Herman and Beth
had given up on having
a baby of their own

Joey is very bright
and picks up things fast
from the neighborhood kids
mostly Mexican
and Filipino children

Beth heard him using
a totally new word
It sounded like encarcelado
She had her neighbor Lupe
interpret for her

"Why it means someone in jail
You see it a lot in bail bonds"
and she showed Beth eight
such ads in the telephone directory
some with tricky slogans

If you don't like it behind the wall
give Speedy McFerrin a call

Notes

McDaniel, Wilma. (2001) Borrowed Coats. Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, New York.
Courtesy University of California, Merced Library. Copyright owned by the Regents of the University of California.