Guilty Until Proven Innocent

By luigi_pagano

Sat, 15 Mar 2014
  • 1905 reads
6 comments
 
You have been found guilty
of an horrendous crime
by a jury of twelve just men
and you will serve some time
languishing on death row,
before the lethal needle
and nothing anyone can do
no matter how they wheedle.
 
This is what the judge said
at the end of the trial when
he listened to the verdict
of the jury of twelve white men.
But the colour of your skin
was not of the same hue
and so the right to justice
did not apply to you.
 
You were not at the scene
of the alleged offence
but the fact was not pursued
by an incompetent defence.
The whole trial was shambolic,
it was a catalogue of errors;
there were false witnesses
and twelve prejudiced jurors.
 
Now they’ve got new evidence
and you left the penitentiary
but you endured hell on earth
for a quarter of a century.
As you start your life afresh
you'll forget the bitter tears.
They will give compensation
but can’t give you the lost years.
 
© Luigi Pagano 2014
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri
Other Non-fiction

Comments

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Luigi.

I'm guessing this is about Glenn Ford? Your poem is so carefully worded that reading it, you hardly notice that it is written in rhyme. You get the message over with such feeling, and the rhyming doesn't in any way detract from the importance of the subject. 'hell on (h)earth' ?

Really well worked.

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Got it in one, Bee. It is about Glenn Ford. As regards that superflous 'h' I just got carried away by the previous one. Amended now. Thanks for drawing my attention to it. Cheers.

Luigi

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

I guessed it was this case as well.

You have summed it up and the last two lines says it all.

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Much obliged to you for your feedback, Starfish Girl. Thank you.

Luigi

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It's not saying an awful lot, but I suppose in some nations/systems new evidence would be hushed up, and no admission of any mistakes, unless a new regime took over?? Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Most definitely, Rhiannon, but in an enlightened country such as the United States twenty five years on death row plus incarceration for five years prior to that it's not something that their judiciary system can be proud of.

Luigi