Lifer

I knew this guy once
in prison
who was covered in tattoos
from the top of his head
to the bottom of his feet.

Every square inch
was inked.
And he shaved his head,
to prove it.

He was a lifer,
because they said
he killed a judge's kid
back awhile ago,
and though you never ever asked him
what really happened,
he sure looked like
someone who did it.

Worked in the paint shop
when he wasn't in lock down
and it was there
they said he
got a plan
to escape.

Something about an explosion
and tunnels
that supposedly led
into the sewers
and under the walls.

The idea was stupid,
and you never knew
if it was one he really had
or one the guards thought up
all on their own.

All I know
is that when we talked about it
he got real quiet
and then
staring right at me
asked how long
I thought he'd last
before getting caught
looking the way he looked.

Which I thought
was a very good point.