The Execution

He walks down the hall
step by step
Slowly
Shackles on his ankles and wrists
clinking as he moves

The door opens
They sit him down
He closes his eyes
takes a deep breath
They strap him down

They ask for any last words

He looks up
He says "I'm sorry
I wish I could take it back
I wish I was never born
I wish it never happened
I'm sorry"

They press the switch
Eight minutes and forty-three seconds pass
The doctor says he is dead
Everyone knows his name

James Lee Robinson

In a month only a few will remember his name
The warden
The executioner
And Mikey's wife

No one knows if he was sorry
Maybe he was contrite
Maybe he was mocking

But the point is
it doesn't matter

Because no one really cares

Comments: 19

John Doyle Aug 25, 2009, 2:14pm EDT

Grim and Tragic. John Donn said every man's deathe diminishes me

Ylanne Sorrows Aug 25, 2009, 2:17pm EDT

I would agree with Donn in that case. :/

John Doyle Aug 25, 2009, 2:22pm EDT

The rest of the quote is "so do not send to find for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee"

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George Shaw Aug 25, 2009, 2:14pm EDT

Yes, we kill people to try to prove the point that it is wrong to kill people.

Ylanne Sorrows Aug 25, 2009, 2:17pm EDT

Amen, brother.

George Shaw Aug 25, 2009, 2:23pm EDT

If one goes back in time to England when there were over 100 different kinds of capital crimes, and when there were public executions, one can see that the death penalty is no deterrent to crime.
Picking pockets or cutting purses was a capital crime. Crowds would gather to watch the hanging of pick pockets, and pick pockets would be working the crowd.

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Richard B. Aug 25, 2009, 2:58pm EDT

well written, thanks

Ylanne Sorrows Aug 25, 2009, 4:02pm EDT

Thank you!

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Sandi S. Aug 25, 2009, 3:08pm EDT

This was engaging and thought-provoking!

Ylanne Sorrows Aug 25, 2009, 4:03pm EDT

Thank you.

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Maurice K. Aug 25, 2009, 3:22pm EDT

Very profound and well written.

Ylanne Sorrows Aug 25, 2009, 4:02pm EDT

Thanks, Maurice.

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Sharon P. Aug 25, 2009, 5:04pm EDT

So very true, and so very sad. Wasted lives.

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Chas Andrews Aug 25, 2009, 5:37pm EDT

thanks

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Vaishnavi K. Aug 26, 2009, 2:34am EDT

A sad poem... Thank you... it did make me think about the people who do wrong because wrong has been done to them and end up with death sentences... Sometimes its their vindictiveness and vengence that make them do and end up with what.. death.. sad.. really sad...

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