The Switch

The woman walked up to the prison gates

But the guard wouldn’t let her through,

‘We only have room for the prison inmates

There’s certainly none for you.’

‘But I need to get in, I have to get in,

My love’s to be hanged at the dawn,

If you could show pity, show pity for me,

I need one more kiss, then he’s gone!’

‘You want dispensation, then talk to the judge,

His chambers are only next door,

He’s cold and he’s heartless, a hard man to budge,

Tell him what you’re looking for.

He came to the judgement that fastened the noose

Of death round your lover’s throat,

There’ll not be much pity to see in his eyes

As he watches your lover choke.’

She went to his chambers and knocked at his door,

He opened it up in surprise,

‘Why would you come knocking, it’s late in the hour?’

‘Tomorrow my lover dies!’

‘The judgement is given, it can’t be reversed,

He’s condemned by the law of the land,’

She looked for compassion, his message was terse,

‘When he dies, it is by his own hand.’

She quailed at his hardness, went down on her knees,

‘I just need to see him once more,

I’m willing to pay with whatever you please,

I’m begging you, down on the floor.’

The judge saw his options and wickedness gleamed

In the eyes of the law of the land,

He offered an avenue by which it seemed

She’d get one more glimpse of her man.

She’d made up her mind to not shrink from the task

That she’d set herself, nor would she slip,

From offering everything that he might ask

For her man was the prow of her ship.

He took his advantage, it was as she’d feared

On the bench of his Chancery Court,

And left with a pass he had signed as he leered

At the precious few moments she’d bought.

The guard let her in where her man was condemned

And he let them alone for a while,

Her urgency stemmed from the moments they hemmed

In between both a kiss and a smile,

The guard noticed nothing amiss when she left

Her tears hidden under her hair,

Not even a glance at the prisoner in rags

Who crouched in the corner in there.

The figure they dragged to the gallows floor

Was weak and unusually soft,

The judge had been waiting to see the despair

He had caused, with the figure aloft.

Then out called the hangman, ‘it isn’t a man,

You’ve brought me a woman to hang,’

A woman who’d already cut off her hair

And given her wig to her man.

‘Someone shall pay,’ cried the judge in his ire,

‘I’ll not have the law over-ruled.’

‘That someone is you when the things that you do

Allow you to rape, and be fooled.’

The judge then had bellowed, ‘we’ll hang her instead,’

And the hangman had knotted the noose,

She cried as the trap dropped, ‘My love is not dead,

And your law is of no further use.’

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Barbz]

Are you trying to tell us that a judge, or the Law of the Land can be corrupt, actually offering dispensation for a favor of the flesh? I'm Shocked!!! Seriously, tho, I was held captive, reading it over again, thoroughly enjoying the Coup, while trying to figure out why, in Gods name, did she do it!! is that what we do? DLP, you are so diverse, offering a spice for every taste.....Yet another attention getter....Barbz

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Such a sad tragic tale of love...well written....

[Willard Wells]

Very well told story of true love given for one's loved one. Nice finish even if not really a surprise. Nicely done.

[BlackRose]

Kept me reading wondering what's to happen next, never expecting that kind of outcome. Reminds me of those such as judges, politicians, etc who do wrong or wrongfully covict. Another terrific read grabber.

[R Smith]

fantastic story telling David, the judge will get his one day but such a sacrifice she made for her love and the law had no right to hang her, her crime was not such an offence, by his actions the judge will be punished for this wrongful crime, I hope, who can tell with such wild laws, great work my friend :)

[Valentine]

So she not only gave her body but also her life to save a man already condemned to death. If her man knew what she had done with the judge, he may have payed him off. Interesting tale as all ways. Valentine

[Marie]

She made a terrible sacrifice--but what kind of man would have let her make it? Or was he so sure they wouldn't hang the wrong victim, especially a woman?

This cruel, corrupt judge got his victim, but he didn't keep the law.

[andrew mitchell]

If it ain't pollies, its judges and then there's the church which like to cover things up. A write that flows with our times David.