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Visiting Time

A father takes out his prayer mat
unrolls it onto the visit room floor
kneels carefully
takes a few minutes
to pray for his young son
- He must.
- Who else can save him now?

They hold each other
son holding onto his father
father holding onto his son
it isn’t clear who is supporting who
through the tears
even the Prison Officer holds back
just for that few minutes
to give the father time to recover his son
for the son to recover his father
after all, what is a few minutes
between father and son
when a seven year sentence stretches out in front of them?

Rachel Burns

If you have any thoughts on this poem,  Rachel Burns would be pleased to hear them.

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