Felt Tip Law

100 word poem

On the back of the bent slab

Of a cardboard box

Lime green highlighter, red Sharpie

In spray paint next to posted bills

Or scrawled on a page

From a spiral bound notebook

Missing letters

Bad grammar

A spatter of sauce

Coffee ring

Ink blot

But their soul is a riveted metal placard

Statements & commands

inform & instruct

They are the fresh, current law

And we follow, happy to do as they tell us

And share the message

With passersby and newcomers.

Faced with these crooked haphazard signs

Even rebels do their bidding

with respect for their letters and their spirit