Concisely Told

This is about a grisly chapter in U.S. history.

 

Concisely Told

 

February 8

Gee Jon died by lethal gas

Nineteen Twenty-Four

 

first time gas was used

to execute a person

oy what a mistake

 

where did it happen

Carson City, Nevada

in the U.S.A.

 

God is the true judge

God alone can read a soul

but deeds all can judge

 

a paid assassin

murderer of Tom Quong Kee

suspected of more

 

Guilty and hapless

he was both an assassin

and a guinea pig

 

Hop Sing Tong failed him

declined to pay bribery

hapless was Gee Jon

 

in Guangdong, China

did Gee Jon have a sister

who was his poor ma

 

yes I sympathize

her son a sorry killer

hapless guinea pig

 

a paid assassin

executed breathing gas

his violence trumped

Author's Note

I like to share this at this time of year. Comments are welcome.

Reviews

[Sasha]

I gotta give it to you for being bold enough to express your opinion on a touchy subject like the death penalty so openly - and in the form of three haikus. Nice job.