a scribbled note in a child’s hand ~ fer halp mi reed
phonetically scrawled

syllables scramble ~ vowels dance in and out
innocent love bleeds

a first grader’s note?
no, a recently transferred east L.A. 5th grade bi-lingual student
parents working two jobs
thankful he’s in “Happy Corner” after school program help him ’til dark

this scotch-taped family hold each other tight
storm survivors squeezing an immigrant’s dream
my heart screams
“WORK FOR FREE!”