His incarceration
leads to eviction
for her and their toddler.
Family move her closer
to where he is held.
Without warning
he is transported
to a distant prison.
She cannot visit
until others are free
to take her:
pressure on them
and
never time alone
with her man.
Limited funds
and benefit mix-ups
leave her with little food
and nothing to finance
his necessities at ‘buy-ups’.
She visits friend after friend
he phones where she has been
finds she has moved on:
one of his two precious calls
per week wasted.
He is tense confused
fears the loss of his family.
She is angry unavailable
and her landlord
becomes demanding.
She their son and
unborn child
face homelessness
for the second time
in as many months
and there are four months pending…
c. Kathryn Coughran
First published: 1994
In: Family Matters
(Kathryn Andersen)