From Grandfather to Grandson

This poem is based on John Grisham's novel-'The Chamber'.It is written from death row inmate Sam Cayhall to his grandson Adam Hall.

Dear Grandson Adam/Alan
It was all the darkness of hatred
until you came to lit the
lamp of love in my sombre life.
When everyone had left me alone 
to die in the chamber,
you came as an angel to save my life.

I'm sorry son,that I had
left you a legacy of
unbearable guilt and shame.
I am sorry that your father,Eddie,got
punishment of my sins.
I'm sorry that you had to 
forsake your real identity,
without even knowing,
to run from the wretched
fog of my deeds.

But Adam,
I had always loved you,Carmen,Lee
and your daddy Eddie.
I had always dreamt of
flying to California to
play with you and tell Carmen stories.
You believe it or not,
it was the best day in my cursed life when I first heard your voice and your words-"Could you remove the handcuffs,please?"
will always chime in my mind.
You can think me as ruthless
but you would never know
how I shuddered to realize
that Kramer kids were inside the house to be blown.
How my tortured soul was haunted
by the guilt of killing Joe throughout
devilish days and ghostly nights.

I always wonder why I couldn't be like you.
Why I had chosen the dark road of vampirish hatred
over the divine path of love?
Only if I had made the right choice
we would be enjoying a nice evening tea
everyday with everyone-you,me,Carmen,Eddie,Lee and your mother.
Before leaving the world'
I want to say that
I love you my son
and I don't want to die leaving you.
I don't want to lose my little Alan once again,
and lastly
please forgive me.

Your unlucky Grandfather
Sam Cayhall

Author's Note

This poem is based on John Grisham's novel-'The Chamber'.It is written from death row inmate Sam Cayhall who is held responsible for bombing Marvin Kramer's office which killed his 5 year old twins-John and Josh.to his grandson Adam Hall who also happens to be his lawyer.