ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The Hangman’s Repent

© Stephen Whiteside 11.04.2012

Do your worst, aye, shoot me down, or simply run me through.
The time has come I will no longer be a servant true.
I did your ugly bidding once. At last, those days are done.
I stand now at the mercy of your dagger and your gun.
 
Once I stood, just like this man, condemned to hang to death.
I couldn’t face this bitter end. I valued high my breath.
Too much, indeed, I valued it, agreed to bitter trade,
And that is how the hangman for this settlement was made.
 
But hangman I will be no more, for this is not a life,
Living off the miseries and sufferings and strife
Of men whose crimes are never more than mine, and often less.
My cowardice, my selfishness, I seek now to redress.
 
I will not hang this man who has been sentenced here to die.
It’s time at last that from my flesh my spirit free should fly.
I see the mask of fury and I hear the shouted threat,
But nothing will deter me as I now repay my debt.
 
A dead man standing, that is what I know myself to be,
Yet not since boyhood have I felt so sure and strong and free.
I see the faces of lost friends, lost friends I’ll see once more,
For soon I will be knocking, Lord, upon sweet Heaven’s door!

Powerful poem Stephen!! Very much enjoyed it.
Sometimes we must stand for what is true, rather than for what will get us further - well, really, always we should stand for what is true!!!

Catchya
IRene

Thanks, Irene. I was reading some history today, and this little scenario popped into my mind. I have a feeling, though, that things aren't going to turn out quite as our hangman imagines. Perhaps they will tell him they plan to torture the condemned man unless he pulls the lever, or they will threaten to torture the hangman himself, or even his family. Somehow, I suspect he's not going to get the quick, clean death he is hoping for.

Ah Stephen - if he makes a run for it, they will shoot him mid flight!! A quicker death than torture!!
And even though they will still hang the man, at least he knows he has not done the wrong thing!! (Well, he'd be dead too, so wouldn't know it in this world!1 )

Irene

Very powerful Stephen, a good one to set the brain ticking over.
Robyn

Thanks, Robyn.

Good thinking, Irene. But can he run? He's standing on a platform surrounded by armed soldiers.

Powerful writing Stephen - masterfully handled. I love poems that relate to actual history, little time capsules. Very much enjoyed the reading of this one. Thank you

Cheers

Maureen

Thanks, Maureen. Much appreciated.