AUTHOR’S NOTE: I devised this short untitled form as a tribute to Laquan McDonald, a teen murdered on camera by Chicago Police in 2014. The form is sixteen syllables long (or four lines of four syllables). Police practices (abuse, enforcement, community relations, etc.), mass incarceration or public safety (or related issues) are the preferred subjects for this form. The sixteen syllables represent the number of times McDonald was shot. This is my second installment.

1.

Gang database

By CPD

Is fraudulent

Law enforcement.

2.

Technology

Doesn’t solve crime.

It is a tool

Used to solve them.

3.

Privatized ICE

Facilities

Detain people

Seeking freedom.

4.

The “S” Visa

Rewards snitches

With green cards for

Reporting crimes.

5.

The officer

Didn’t like it

When they were told,

“Stop and frisk this!”

6.

Sanctuary

For immigrants

From ICE agents

Pursuing them.

7.

Disparities

In enforcement

And sentencing

Bespeaks bias.