George

His first name was George,
his surname Edalji -
most often mispronounced
by people, with glee.
His mother was Scottish,
his father a Parsee
but George with India
felt no affinity.
Was proud of being English,
his true identity.
He achieved notoriety
in nineteen-o-three
when wrongfully convicted
of depravity.
Sentenced to seven years
he served only three
but he wasn’t pardoned
and so he wasn’t free.
Conan Doyle intervened
and obtained a decree
that cleared the man’s name
yet didn’t get a dime or even a bawbee.

© Luigi Pagano 2012