they sit him down, strap the arms,
not the old chair, not the rope—
this is cleaner, scientific,
no blood, no sparks,
just the mask.
the lungs beg first,
pulling at nothing,
a vacuum of sky
swallowing itself.
the heart beats like a busted drum,
then quieter,
the eyes go wet, then far—
a man drowning on land
without water, without storm.
the state calls it mercy.
but death is still death,
as the body visibly shows us.
In Florida state prison, a tale I'll unfold,
The first electrocution, a story untold.
Anguish, pain, in chambers of despair,
A prisoner's torment, his soul stripped bare.
Electric currents surged through veins like fire,
His body convulsed, his screams were ignored.
The pain, relentless, coursing through his core,
As death approached, its grip, he bore.
Through darkness he traveled, his spirit confined,
A prisoner of agony, cruel and unkind.
Till finally, death's embrace offered reprieve,
Release from the torment, forever to relieve.
In Florida's history, a chilling page was turned,
The first electrocution, a cruel lesson not yet learned.
Yet the echoes of anguish forever remain,
A reminder of his price the state still ignores.
Ode to the Governor
by
Warren Curle
I long for a woman I can't have,
She is a woman who dances in my dreams,
She is a woman I always think of,
She is a woman I want to
She is a woman I dream of making love to,
She is a woman I'd long to grow old with,
She is a woman I want to share my life,
She is a woman I'm forbidden to have,
She is the woman;I wish the State would free
She is the woman I cannot hide away with,
She is a woman that I must meet Between wire and steel
She is the woman I cannot sneak a kiss,
She is the woman listed by a coded number,
She is a woman;I pray the State will forgive,
She is a queen in the tower of our despair,
that knows how to love me,
Please oh please, Governor do let her go!
I'm in a tight spot
this guns for hire
sure it spits fire
but only six shots
I'm in nightmare alley
down a side street
I see a red light
no black angel's in sight
there's no place to pray
no sacred way
just a frightened city
a place with no pity
I'm not a big shot
I got no big deal
I'm just illegal
looking to steal
the cops had me cornered
it's my last day
no reasonable doubt
no chance of a stay
the big house wants me
I want to live
it's time to quit
for the law won't forgive
this is my story
crime ain't no glory
just a public defender
my case out to tender
high walls of San Quintin
they hem me in
just a high window
no visits from kin
I can't tell a lie
each dawn I die
behind locked doors
but the damned don't cry
I'm for the big sleep
I'm feeling the heat
it's time for the pay-off
my maker to meet
In Merry Old England’s fine capital,
where Marx would compose his work “Capital”,
King Charlie the First
faced up to the worst —
a punishment gruesomely capital.
It’s raining hammers and nails
The storms are rusty
And hang in the sky
The pews are shadowed
And the apse is silent
Sinners are upon their knees
Darkness descends upon the day
A lantern swings in the storm
The executioner is hooded
Silent and cold
A shadow upon the Mother Mary
Jesus has nothing to say
The Holy Ghost is walking in circles
The door it gently sways
And through it he see’s
His mother and sister
Heads hung so low
His life is gray as steel
He knows no future
Yet is certain of it
Death hovers in the air
Praying for a miracle
While strapped to a chair
The lightning strikes
And takes it toll
For the executioner has done his work
The lights went out
And came back on
But by then he was gone
The appointment was made
He paid the price
For killing twice
The third one was on the State.
Capital punishment
When a state
Kills a convicted murderer
The state
Becomes like the killer
Murdering the defenseless
In the toxic word
Of justice
Regarding capital punishment, I have the following question;
Why do they sterilize the inmate's arm prior to lethal injection?
Are they concerned that before he dies that he'll get an infection?
Oh I went to school in fifty one
Like every six year old should
I did’t know what was in store
A flogging for my good?
Bushy got a sandwich from another kid at school
He handed me another, nice tucker it was cool
Bushy did not come this day, I got another sandwich
Head teacher grabbed me by the scruff
A long cane he did brandish.
He thought to drive the evil out
I surely got a thrashing
Blue stripes from heel to nape of neck
Yes mate I got a bashing .
Beryl Mason was the older girl (bushys sister)
Who came and told my father
He sprang upon his horse, did whirl
His stockwhip cracked like thunder
He rode up the steps into the school
And sprang upon the teacher
Belted him often hard and cruel
And Joe become a preacher...he saw the light
So I did not get the cane for awhile after that.
I’d had all I needed for awhile. Don Johnson 6-12-10
But perhaps it worked on me i didn't do time and i'm drug and alcohol free?
been sentenced to death
appeals process has expired
high voltage, seat wired
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