The 38th Inmate

by Poet on the Piano   Jul 29, 2012


The transients line my jail cell, disclosing that
evening will no longer let my eyes open-
that each moment around me, each touch
in scrubby walls and dirty fingers
will not be enough.

For the night will be lethal. No more will
little birds of my fear be able to plea
anymore.

I can't look back or remember if I ever
held my daughter's heart close to mine.
I want to comfort her in dreams, tell her
death is freedom; but darling,
you can't save a man who took a life
thinking sunshine was still out there,

I thought I had.....time

Today, I won't hear the blind gunshot
that was consonant
with the day my heart became
cold, disconnected somehow.

I will....feel? Or maybe fall
through a nothingness stridden
by unsymmetrical death row.

No one will notice who I used to be,
who I was born,
they'll only see the wrongness in me,
the "eye for an eye", "blood for another
one's blood",

am I the only one who wants
to be a child again, pay up for
stealing breaths with butterfly
kisses?

But right now, I'd leap at the lips
who could tell me my life was saved-
that I would have to live
the rest of my days locked up
or in the will of the family I broke
apart after

that strange land, strange face.

That day, I failed to realize who I was
and now....

I will never have a soul for
repentance.

I thought time....would forgive.

Written July 28, 2012 at 11:42 in the perspective of the Arkansas man who was put on death row today for shooting and killing a policeman.

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  • 12 years ago

    by The Poet Behind The Poems

    This is my fac from you first the title then description was so detailed I could see myself in the dirty cell what an amazing poem I liked how you used the sun , this is really spectacular I loved the ending it says to me you have to live with your choices the rest of your life

    Unbelievable my favs. :)

  • 12 years ago

    by Xanthe

    MaryAnne :)
    I find it quite hard catching up with your poems and I don't know how to write you a 'decent' comment. I'll try, though.

    I thought this was a lovely write. A lot of people choose justice over mercy, I would too, but after reading this piece, I don't really know. I mean, a person is still a person. No one should die in another man's hands no matter how 'bad' he is/was. Our lives' are God's and we should only give them up when He pleases.

    Just some thoughts: I think unsymmetrical should be 'asymmetrical'.
    And:
    "But right now, I'd leap at the lips
    who could tell me my life was saved-
    that'd I would have to live
    the rest of my days locked up"
    ^
    The third line here seems awkward. I think 'that'd' should be: that.
    Liked the 'leap' and 'lips' though.

    Glad to see this nominated. Keep writing!

  • 12 years ago

    by Britt

    Okay this poem is way too good to have gone unnoticed!! MARYANNE THIS IS AMAZING.

    I found myself having chills throughout the entire piece, and halfway through I had to skim down to see your footnote, I was too impatient and couldn't wait. I had an idea, but knowing exactly what it was about made it even more chilling..sigh.

    "That day, I failed to realize who I was
    and now....

    I will never have a soul for
    repentance.

    I thought time....would forgive."

    Best piece, ever. Hands down. This is gorgeous and heartbreaking.

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