Institutionalized

[billy]

An uncle was found in a cab is was needed? (an uncle, fou..)
parked by the drive-thru. The camera said (cameras don't talk) is it needed?
he had entered, hiding a lump under his hoodie he'd, does it work better than 'ha had'?
near his chest: an arm mistaken for aluminum, i can't the sense in this line?
a covered fist for a loaded barrel,
a prayer for home
under a demand for cash.

The taxi, outside, waited for directions
to leave

even as the passenger returned
and sirens galloped closer. great line
Even as cruisers charged the exit this carries on the metaphor
and he unlocked the door to receive the law,
eyeing handcuffs fastened on the belt rings
of blue uniforms that reached the handle
and pulled,

the taxi, outside, waited for directions
to leave.

the last stanza works really well and as such i have no nits for it. my problem is the drawn out 1st stanza. i'm not getting a good image of the non weapon. (why (an) and not (my) uncle)?

if you can get the 1st to be as good as the last it would improve it tenfold.

thanks for the read