handle

The officer
had his baton
out.

his
hand griped on the handle,
his arm ready
to swing at my mom.

She was just  being dropped off
in front of her home.

They pulled the car
over,
because it
was old,
because
they were
three Latina women
because illegal's drive old cars.
because Latino's are illegal's
-but
mostly because they can.

my mother is
an older woman,
often
complains
of her
arthritis and walks a little slower
every year
a senior citizen
but more importantly and American citizen.


She stood up tall.
afraid.

it hasn't been the first time
police have
threatened to hurt her.

She stood up tall
afraid.

She stared down
the officer telling him
he was being ridiculous.

big Anglo man, with a
baton in his hand,
threatening to hurt an old lady.

he was ridiculous.
he put his baton away.

She handled it with pride
She handled it with dignity.

She
had
handled it.


08'