THE U.S. PRISON POPULATION

The U.S. is incarcerator number one.
Of us, prisoners are percentage one.
It seems there've been some times
When somewhat minor have been the crimes
That some of them have done.

And, though it seems beyond the pale,
Many folks are spending time in jail
With sweat stains on their collars
For the want of a hundred dollars
To put up for bail.


(Based on front page articles of February 29 in The Washington Post and Richmond Times-Dispatch.)