Open Poetry #17 |
Johnny Lee Wilson |
True Reflections Member
since 2001-12-04
Posts 143Ohio, USA |
Johnny Lee Wilson, all of fifteen years old, Lies down in his cell, in the dark and the cold, No one excused the horrible thing that he did, A grown-up crime, done by a confused little kid. Three years today, he entered this prison, Guilty on all counts was the jury's decision, The street that he lived on would concern him no more, His freedom was gone when he passed through that door. Salvatore Macerelli had a normal man's life, Each morning he paused in the door with his wife, For 30 years, each morning, he'd hear his wife say, I love you, my husband, please be careful today. Sal was the owner of a neighborhood store, He made enough to get by, just enough to be poor, The day Johnny met Sal the two paths were crossed, One heart stopped beating and one soul was lost. When they told her the news, that her husband was dead, Her world started spinning around in her head, She fell to her knees and let out a scream, And prayed to the Lord to make this a dream. The policeman reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, He felt so helpless, he wished he could hold her, She looked in his eyes and choked out a why, Someone would do this, cause her Sal to die. A mother weeps, in quiet desperation, At the coming of a permanent separation, A little boy in shackles was led back to the vault, She couldn't help but think it all was her fault. The look on his face showed how much he was scared, A young life was over and it seemed nobody cared, The trial had been swift and the jury was willing, To send out a message to stop kids from killing. As Johnny Lee Wilson was sentenced to death, He thought back on the words of a last gasping breath, As he stood over the body with the still smoking gun, A dying old man, said "I forgive you my son". Roger |
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© Copyright 2001 Roger Long - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marsha
since 2000-07-10
Posts 7423Maidstone Kent England |
Roger darling boy, this is utterly fabulous and I get to be the first to reply. Whoopeee! Fabulous writing as always. The flow of this is perfect that too as always is excellent. You are a fantastic writer, but I think I've told you that before? Maybe just once or twice Love and warm stuff As always Mushy To give light to them that sit in darkness..... to guide our feet into the way of peace St John ch2 v1 |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
True Reflections, Lives up to your name A wonderful story Of who is to blame. Well done. |
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True Reflections Member
since 2001-12-04
Posts 143Ohio, USA |
Marsha, I know you are biased towards my work, but I love to see your responses and the excitement you put into them. Thanks sweetie. Seymour, Thank you for taking the time to read through this tale. My username comes from writing from who I really am and not what I want others and myself to see. Roger |
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sodpossom Senior Member
since 2001-06-15
Posts 723N.C |
Roger This is really great.I like poetic stories.Well done my friend! |
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Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774Ontario, Canada |
A wonderful story Roger ... very nicely composed, and much enjoyed! Best wishes, /Kit |
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JoMason Member
since 2001-12-07
Posts 57 |
True Reflections - Roger, As a former advocate for survivors of victims of homicide, I read this with interest. As a writer your style sure makes it easier to read than a newspaper version would. Nice writing. Jo Mason 12/10/01 |
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True Reflections Member
since 2001-12-04
Posts 143Ohio, USA |
Stevie, Thank you. This is one that bothers me everytime I read it, but it was one of the first where I told the story from many points of view at the same time. Kit, Thanks for taking the time to read all the way through it. There are so many victims in a crime like this. Jo, I'm glad you enjoyed this. I tried to bring the poem full circle by showing that the person that influenced the boy the most was the one that forgave him for the sin. Roger |
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