Death Penalty

Death Penalty Sonny Johnson’s home was on the street Sharing space with rats who nibbled at his feet Until he moved his blanket to the county jail ‘Cause someone said he stabbed a white female He faced the court without a scrap of money So no lawyer of renown defended Sonny A jury found him guilty in two hours And no one wondered if the fault was his or ours No delays or stays of execution How sweet they are, revenge and retribution A pork chop and beans sat cooling in a bowl While a portly priest sanctified Sonny’s soul They strapped him to a gurney hard and fast Two witnesses looked away, eyes downcast Beads of sweat on Sonny’s forehead glistened “Ain’t done the deed; how come y’all don’t listen?” Sonny shuddered once before his heart stopped beating Nary a soul mourned his tragic life so fleeting With other poor men, they put him in the ground And no stone marker graced his burial mound Sonny’s fate isn’t hard to justify The Holy Book supports an eye for an eye Does anyone care how many men are taken With the chilling chance that we may be mistaken?