Jury Duty Rag

Lunch on the second day in the back room
Where there are a few round tables for those
With laptops and who want to place styrofoam bowls
Of soup on something sturdier than a lap
In this light green room with the river bridge art
Networking, texting, typing, earphones on
Warbling through the break in a dash of determination
To fit a few drops of ourselves in between munches
Or slurps, crunches, chews, nibbles, and sips
Then back to the questions and selections
For the afternoon of sitting and listening
To the judge and many request to leave
Due to multitude of seemingly good reasons
Seasons of hardship, a physician has no one
Who will see her patients, teachers no one
To teach their students, non-refundable
Flights, no one to care for children, small
Businesses unable to function if the trial
Goes on as planned all next week.
At 1:30 we will line up and ascend
To learn the fate of those who wish
To be excused and of those who remain.