NaPoWriMo Poem #17

The Trial
By Edward S. Gault

She stood before the judge
And told him how the man had
Confronted her on the sidewalk.
He had threatened to throw acid in her face
If she did not do exactly
As he told her to do.
Frightened, she ran down the street
Into a side alley,
Where she had hoped to lose him
-but he was faster.
He shoved her down,
And ripped through her clothing,
And raped her there.
She said it seemed to last for hours.
Nobody came to help her.
She looked up to the judge.
He looked to the man sitting passively
At a nearby table.
He motioned to the jury.
They deliberated, and came back
Guilty, they pronounced.
The judge then pronounced the sentence.
At that time,
The woman was taken out and stoned.

Copyright©2009

NaPoWriMo Poem #16

The Things They Did.
By Edward S. Gault

We read about them today.
They went to work
And came home to their families.
They went out to dinner.
Went to the movies.
Took walks.
They wrote poetry.
Went camping
-and had dreams about the lake,
And the way the moon’s reflection
Looked in it.
Sometimes they had their photos taken.
Their pictures line the wall of galleries today.
They didn’t know that then though.
They were taking their family walks
-tossing their children up in the air.
They blew candles out on birthday cakes.
They dreamed of their vacation
on the beach of some foreign port.
Many just stayed home
And played in their yards.
Some had picnics in the park
Where they enjoyed the sun on their face
On such a nice day.
Then the police came one night
And took them all away.

Copyright@2009

There For Years, Never Noticed

Sitting there with his cup,
No longer able to cry
-just asking for change.

Copyright 2008

The 'Ol Grindstone

They were told work hard!
So they did for fifty years
-died in poverty.

Copyright 2008