Unspoken

A corner

more out of view

we say its “ducked off”

there’s two benches

two Blacks

and

two Mexicans

we all know each other

well enough to share laughs

then another comes

we all knew him

he needed a seat

he paused for a second

viewing his options

we all love our space

regardless,

one bench would now be crowded

he was Black

everyone will always choose the edge

more safe comfortable advantageous, and less locked in

I guess

its just instinct

I was closest to the edge

instinctively

I moved closer to it

compromise the middle between me and another was now open

nothing said

he sat down

in the less comforting

least advantageous

least safe

and more locked in seat

nothing said

silently we all knew what was expected

you may not get it

but prison made segregation the thing again

as if there’s another way?

and as I write this

four more of my kind have come around

the Mexicans got up

silently outnumbered

because its all about colors and numbers

and now the ducked off corner

is all Blacked out

not enough seats

we love our space

most to stand

and it just became the spot

gravity I guess

from slightly out of sight

to the most seen

by inmate and guard alike

but we don’t notice

though, we know it

unspoken.