The Spoon Ring -- Paul Mariah

THE SPOON RING –– by Paul Mariah He had the silver Handle of a spoon Curled around His finger.

His grandmother’s Silver, A wedding present, To preserve The family crest.

The spoon ring That I wear wings Me back to prison.

The secret vows Of prisoners Exchange rings, Silver contraband.

(Whenever a spoon Is stolen from chow Line, frisks happen, Search for lost silver Either a shiv appears In some hidden corner Or a lover announces His bond, shows his hand.)

He did not know The ritual of silver As he showed me His grandmother’s ware.

A spoon, a wedding ring, Crest of prison despair That knows the ritual song “To spoon the empty air.”