The Tragedy Of Justice

A Poem by AveTN

A poem inspired by the story of a young man on death row in Texas - the reference to "he" is a mention of is defense lawyer. "They" is a reference to the jury. The quotes are from the trial.

Many times before your life has been spared,

Perhaps no one knows, perhaps no one can care.

Your time wasn’t then, and it still isn’t now,

Who’s right is it to choose when we go, or how?

He implored “is it worth it to save such a life?”

They saw a man owning a heart filled with ice;

A man without guilt, a man without shame,

In his words “this is all just part of the game.”

Could one so cruel ever know how to love?

Could one so far down ever rise up above?

So once again he asked “is there anything left to save?”

With the tone of judgment, they sent him to his grave.

A system so corrupt that lets the guilty walk free,

The innocent condemned, how unjust can justice be?

Is it wrong to assume a frozen heart can never melt,

Perfect emotions ever expressed, true feelings ever felt?

In a place so close to hell, he found a shred of hope,

But its too late for him now, its too late for them both.

Tortured to their ends through evil circumstance,

Born into a world of fate, man doesn’t stand a chance.

“What if” were the words forming his final relevant question,

What purpose could a God have, for such wasted existence?

In the end it is He who discerns our destiny,

So we may close our eyes in peace, and surrender to our sleep.

© 2014 AveTN

Author's Note

The quote "this is all just part of the game" is a direct quote from the man himself. Other quotes are from his lawyer during the trial and all references to "they" are directed towards the jury. Towards the end the "shred of hope" mentioned is a friend whom he found through writing letters who he has come to care for. This "friend" is someone with many problems and difficulties of their own, which is why its "too late for them both".