Crime Pays
by D.O.T. Marceo
Laws, laws—let us profit
and house the criminals.
Do not soften the laws.
Invest in a just enterprise.
We house prisoners.
It is a business for good.
Make enough arrests.
The bottom line suffers when you do not.
Help us maintain our wealth.
It is cheaper for you.
Shareholders need strict enforcement.
Let us open another.
D. O. T. Marceo was born in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles to a family living in South Los Angeles. Growing up he would spend time in the summers at his maternal grandmother’s house in the country parts of Costa Rica. The path to his bachelor of arts degree in international relations from UC Merced began locally at Santa Monica College. He has since written a collection of poetry entitled “My Diamond”.