A poem by executed death row prisoner Jorge
Cordova
DEATH BY LAW IS NOT THE
SOLUTION
FOR WITHIN THE HEART
BREEDS CONTEMPT AND REVOLUTION
ONE MAN KILLS, ANOTHER
DIES,
WHILE THE STATE CREATES
A NEST OF LIES:
"KILL HIM, KILL
HER, SLAUGHTER ALL,
AND SOCIETY WILL BENEFIT
OVERALL!"
THE MAN ON THE STREET
LIVES HAND TO MOUTH,
IN THESE CONFEDERACY
STATES OF THE SOUTH;
THE MAN IN HIS CASTLE
WITH HIS BELLY FULL,
TAKES ALL HIS SUBJECTS
FOR A FOOL:
"JOIN ME IN THE TRIUMPH
TO SLAUGHTER THE BEAST,
AND I'LL SURELY SHOW
YOU HOW TO ENJOY A FEAST!"
WITHOUT ANY POWER OR KNOWLEDGE
OF WORDS,
THE PRISONER POET IS
SURROUNDED BY SWORDS.
HIS CONQUERED BODY, BURIED
AND SLAIN,
BUT HIS SPIRIT HE KNOWS,
NO DESPOT WILL GAIN;
THO' A THOUSAND LASHES
WILL BRING FORTH SORROW,
THE RESILIENT SPIRIT,
ONLY THINKS ON THE MORROW.
FROM THE JAWS OF THE LION,
HE'S NO STRENGTH TO RUN FREE,
AND WITH GRIP OF ITS
CLAWS, ONE CAN SURELY AGREE;
WITH NO RELIEF IN THE
HALLS, NO RECOURSE IN THE LAW,
BUT THE DESPOT KNOWS
ONE THING, A KING'S ANCIENT FLAW:
WHEN THE PEASANTS ARE
RALLIED,
WITH PITCHFORKS HELD
HIGH,
TO MOUNTAINS HE'LL HARRY,
WITH A FAINT AND A SIGH.
Jorge Cordova
#703 Death Row
Huntsville, Texas,
77343 USA
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