DEFINING LABELS

by Susan L. Pollet


One child is labeled as having
Oppositional defiant disorder
His mother wears a
Designer handbag with a label
While another child is labeled a
Juvenile delinquent
His mother wears a
Goodwill hand-me-down purse
No label
One mother is labeled
A social drinker
While the other mother
Is labeled an addict
One mother is labeled
Wealthy
While the other mother is labeled
Homeless
They all come together to sit on
Bolted down chairs in the waiting
Room of family court to see
What can be done to help label
Them as functional


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Susan L. Pollet is an author, artist, advocate for women’s and children’s rights, rewired lawyer, proud mother and grandmother, and world traveler. She is a past president of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and past Vice President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York. She is currently the co-chair of the Domestic Violence Committee for Wbasny.