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Firing Squad 1916
Another dawn moment
Another dawn crime
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
The firing squad paraded
On the killing ground
Every rifle charged but
One with a blank round.
They carried out the victim
Tied him to a chair
Filled full of whiskey
Just to get him there.
As one the rifles fired
On the officer’s shout
And then the firing squad
Marched off and fallen out.
Through each mind
A single thought was drilling
Pleas God I had the blank
So I didn't do this killing.
No such hope for the officer
Who, with strained white face,
Had with single revolver shot
Performed the Coup de Grace
Another dawn moment
Another dawn crime
Another act of violence
In a violent desperate time.
No attempt at understanding
No attempt at any care
It should have been Kitchener
Or Haigh tied to that chair
It was said that one weapon carried a blank so that nobody was certain whether or not they had actually carried out the execution.
Apparently towards the end, to stiffen morale, 5 or so officers faced the firing squad.
Copyright ©
Terry Ireland
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