90. No Man's Land

They changed the rules. They cancelled sixty-five
protections that keep teenagers in touch
with someone who might care to watch their back.
The social worker, face-to-face support,
weekly allowance – turned off like a tap.

The gangs don’t sleep. They have the database
of kids they trafficked, those who can be scared
or blackmailed into passing packages.
They’re keeping track of those who’ve been cut loose
and move in fast. They’re ready to recruit.

And in between, the casualties. The names
and numbers we don’t know. They’re off the books
beyond our reach and almost out of mind,
the not-quite-adults, not-quite-citizens.