This is the first time I've brought a piece back to the top, but a friend of mine wrote such a concisive reply to this at my other site, I feel it needs to be reread in the context of her words. The fifth stanza here talks of the innocent, but perhaps not in the depth I would have liked, this piece was written in the pure passion of the moment.
An innocent infant, brutally knifed
from it's living womb
two days before it's life's
birth date, doomed while
mother's spirit still bloomed,
and she, stabbed
in the throat, again
and again, to
end her life's loom,
of love and baby's home room.
(The terror, the agony,
the dying...the fears,
in pain, in vain,
in closest contact
to rabid souls of
consciousless ghouls...
their last sight
as death rolls, and
bells silently tolled, of
their own bloodied tears.)
A young couple of love,
the brother and son,
butchered like a pig,
heinously sliced down,
their murderer committed
to Death's Long Town,
a fitting blurb
to a viciously spurred
criminal spurt...
(The agony, the terror,
the unbearable tears,
slashing and gashing,
life's horrible leers,
frozenly facing their ends
with surreal arrears,
of life unlived, killer
convicted by peers.)
An innocent man,
cornered by doubt but
not guilty, "living"
on chair's darkened door,
fearing and protesting,
judged to be guilty,
one in a hundred
to face others punishment
who veered into gore.
(A job left undone,
by a man who was scared,
and let them all live,
to continue his square
meanderings of life,
there is no justice there,
while families cry,
and yell out, "But why
let them all go
for your silly hero-
ic selfishness seems,
a really low blow".)
A governor going out,
continued his clout,
right up to bitter end,
contoversy descends,
and the cries of the doomed
no longer did boom
since the point was now moot,
Death's Row given the boot
into life's prisoned door,
whatever for?
Hi Erin, I thought I would add my two cents, since I live in Illinois and have been following the stories very closely. As you said the controversy and fallout has been huge. I have to say that the whole thing is very layered and I do not think that there is any clear answer to be drawn. The process of reviewing some of the death row cases was originally initiated by the Northwestern law school students and their instructors. I have to say that they did find valid grounds for actually exonerating some of the people, because of non matching DNA or corrupt cops who circumvented evidence or exerted brutal pressure in eliciting confessions. Some of the cases involve a Chicago cop who is now under indictment for running some of the gangs and getting kickbacks. An abuse of power. So unfortunately, it turns out that sevral of the men on death row are actually INNOCENT of the crimes that they were convicted for, with the law students presenting clear and incontrovertible evidence of this. So Gov Ryan, initially released them. Which on reviewing those specific cases, I agree with this decision. However, the question then arises , how many MORE of these death row cases have been tainted by the judicial process, in the form of overzealous prosecutors and a few cops not doing their job in the way the law prosribes. It raises a BIG question in my mind. especially when it has been clearly demonstrated that 3 of the people on death row were clearly innocent. So Gov Ryan, using that premise of doubt, the next day, took the remaining people off of death row.
Unfortunately, he had promised the families of the victims that he personally would review each case and talk to the families and would notify them before he did anything. Which he did not.
Common consensus among Chicagoans is that he got wind of a possible Nobel prize nomination and said to himself, oh screw it, I am not govenor tomorrow, so go for the gold. So the next day he did. Ex Gov Ryan is not without taint himself and will probably be indicted later, under a whole scam of kickbacks for driver licenses that will probaly lead to him, his campaign manager is already under indictment.
I am in favor of the death penalty, but I think the process has to be without taint and be clearly proper. In Illinois there are too many problems right now.Although, the case that you are referring to, Erin in your poem, I definitely favor the death penalty. It was a heinous crime, not only did they( a man and a woman) rip that child from the mothers womb but also kidnapped the younger son and then killed him later.
Deb
Friday, January 24, 2003
Thank you, Deb. I know how I would feel if this happened to my mother, my sister or, god forbid, my daughter...
Reviewed by Darla (visitor) 1/24/2003
Our justice system really stinks!
Reviewed by Tinka Boukes (author) 1/24/2003
I am against murder legal or otherwise.
Your poem is excellent...
Love
Tinka
Reviewed by Joel Raja Kumar J (author) 1/24/2003
A painful read, beautifully pictured though, Erin
Love from India - Joel -
Reviewed by michael horetsky (author) 1/24/2003
Eye for an eye ..Life is not ours to take...just make..michael
Reviewed by Ted Sheridan (author) 1/24/2003
Hang'em High
Reviewed by Jack Roberts (author) 1/24/2003
I figured it was the act of a governor expecting to do some jail time himself. Nice write Erin.
Jack
Reviewed by Peggy Bertrand (author) 1/24/2003
Erin,
Powerful and sad write/
We;ll done
Peg
Reviewed by Kay P Devenish (author) 1/24/2003
Very controversial subject.
I am against murder legal or otherwise.
Your poem is excellent....it is a subject well worth covering and you have done it very well.
I have to go with Gandhi on this subject of cap. punishment: 'an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind'.. too bad justice wears that blindfold with one eye peeking and one hand outstretched and too often filled with blood money. The poem is heart-wrenching and brilliantly worded, as always. katy.
This is well done. It states your opinion well. Anytime we are passionate about anything enough to act upon it for the good or to feel the need to write it down, is good! ;) Silver
This freezes me with terror ... I think what if they were mine and I am sure you know where I am going with this. I wonder if they were mine would the murderer make it to death row or would I ...
Reviewed by Tien Avielle (Reader)
Reviewed on January 25, 2003
All "last-act" pardons are questionable, but too much fault lies in our judicial system - I wonder how many innocents are wrongfully incarcerated, or put to death? It seems lawyers are sanctioned criminals - they can withhold, they can coerce, deceive and lie with apparent impunity...Defenders get paid to clear clients guilty or not; Prosecutors get paid to hang whoever is on the line, guilty or not. They both use shameful tactics to get the job done - and all of society suffers. (IMO)
Reviewed by na na (Reader)
Reviewed on January 25, 2003
I also think Erin, that the Governor - fearing he might be incarcerated in Illinois - did the most usefull thing to cover his own ass. Commute all of the death row inmates. Now he can enter prison as a hero. No worry about one of the convicts jumping his tail. Sure looks like it. Bill Murray
Reviewed by Morchuis
Reviewed on January 24, 2003
Hi Erin.
One of the sad facts of life is that most people rarely consider injustice in any form till they are confronted with it them selves.
The harsh reality of what ever form it takes,is usually only equalled by their anger in their inability to deal with it. Ignorance before the fact is bliss. Knowledge can be hard to live with.--Morchuis
An excellent write, sweets! This is such a controversial issue and I agree with Eileen. You have put a lot of thought into this awesome piece, Air and I hope it does have a wide range of readers... hugs Tee :)
Share
Print
Save
One of the sad facts of life is that most people rarely consider injustice in any form till they are confronted with it them selves.
The harsh reality of what ever form it takes,is usually only equalled by their anger in their inability to deal with it. Ignorance before the fact is bliss. Knowledge can be hard to live with.--Morchuis
Excellent write