"Death By Law Is Not The Solution..."

[CCADP]

KING'S ANCIENT FLAW
A poem by executed death row prisoner Jorge Cordova
www.ccadp.org/jorgecordova.htm

DEATH BY LAW IS NOT THE SOLUTION
FOR WITHIN THE HEART BREEDS CONTEMPT AND REVOLUTION
ONE MAN KILLS, ANOTHER DIES,
WHILE THE STATE CREATES A NEST OF LIES:
"KILL HIM, KILL HER, SLAUGHTER ALL,
AND SOCIETY WILL BENEFIT OVERALL!"

THE MAN ON THE STREET LIVES HAND TO MOUTH,
IN THESE CONFEDERACY STATES OF THE SOUTH;
THE MAN IN HIS CASTLE WITH HIS BELLY FULL,
TAKES ALL HIS SUBJECTS FOR A FOOL:
"JOIN ME IN THE TRIUMPH TO SLAUGHTER THE BEAST,
AND I'LL SURELY SHOW YOU HOW TO ENJOY A FEAST!"

WITHOUT ANY POWER OR KNOWLEDGE OF WORDS,
THE PRISONER POET IS SURROUNDED BY SWORDS.
HIS CONQUERED BODY, BURIED AND SLAIN,
BUT HIS SPIRIT HE KNOWS, NO DESPOT WILL GAIN;
THO' A THOUSAND LASHES WILL BRING FORTH SORROW,
THE RESILIENT SPIRIT, ONLY THINKS ON THE MORROW.

FROM THE JAWS OF THE LION, HE'S NO STRENGTH TO RUN FREE,
AND WITH GRIP OF ITS CLAWS, ONE CAN SURELY AGREE;
WITH NO RELIEF IN THE HALLS, NO RECOURSE IN THE LAW,
BUT THE DESPOT KNOWS ONE THING, A KING'S ANCIENT FLAW:
WHEN THE PEASANTS ARE RALLIED,
WITH PITCHFORKS HELD HIGH,
TO MOUNTAINS HE'LL HARRY, WITH A FAINT AND A SIGH.

Jorge Cordova was executed under "King" George W Bush