AN INNOCENT MAN

He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A innocent man who committed no crime.
But you know circumstances and fate can transpire.
Just as bent police and witnesses sometimes conspire.

Before he knew it, he found himself in a cell.
Locked away for someone else's crime.
A happenstance victim to injustice
Doing someone else's hard time.

He believed in justice that it would set him free.
But the judge donned the black cap, and said guilty.
As the guilty verdict echoed around his head.
The sentence was passed hung by the neck, until you are dead.

Nobody believed his plea that he was innocent.
Straight to death row the man was duly sent.
The policeman smiled and coldly wished him luck.
Content at the result of his elaborate cover up.

Locked in that jail, he tried to toe the line.
But he was marked out for punishment to serve hard time.
He never admitted his guilt to get a better deal.
His case it was turned down twice when it came upto appeal.

The day it had finally come after a twelve year wait.
Death by the noose, would seal his fate.
He first cursed God, until he became resigned.
Knowing he was about die for another man's crime.

Jesus had died before him to set others free.
He thought if it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.
I don't know why he was chosen to carry the can.
But he decided to carry this burden like a man.

The day had come, appeals run dry.
This was the day he was about to die.
He now was resigned he knew the deal.
Savouring every morsel of his last meal..

A Priest was on hand, asked him shall we pray.
He shook his head then laughed and said Father go away.
Then he heard the keys jangle on on the chain.
As the governor entered death row and called out his name.

He said the time has come to meet your fate.
As he read out the time the date and place.
The two prison guards acted as his escorts
To prop him up on his short and final death row walk.

He looked at them and said clearly he was fine .
Then he walked unaided down a painted white line.
Just fourteen paces to that death row cell.
Each step felt like a mile and a living hell.

He just looked straight ahead did no talking
The other prisoners shouted out there's a dead man walking
A secret door opened, now he faced the daunting gallows.
His heartbeat was racing, but his breathing was shallow.
.
The hangman measured him correctly for the noose
His last words of protest would do him no use.
He said he was innocent for one last time.
That he was the second victim of another man's crime.

The Priest he looked at him right in the eye.
He could see no hint of fear, or any sign of a lie.
The Priest said go with God I will pray for your soul.
As he they stood on the hatch above the long drop hole.

He could hear the clock was ticking down on this his final day.
The last seconds of his life were now quicker ticking away.
Every little second tick, sounded like a funeral drum.
Next was the dead man's hood, and noose did come.

In the darkness of the hood, he felt weak at the knees.
He just took his last gasps but he did not beg or plead.
The thought of the real killer ran through his head.
Was he out there laughing, or was he long since dead.

The noose pulled tight, as the hangman stepped back.
To pull the lever to open that hatch.
The floor dropped away as he fell through the space.
For a moment he thought he saw his loving mother's face.

The slack rope pulled taut, the force yanked him back.
Noose it caught him cleanly you heard the neck bone crack.
Body still in spasm from the last death throes but he makes no sound.
His feet doing the dance of death hanging three feet off the ground.

This innocent man who committed no crime.
Finally paid the price for the other man's crimes.
When Justice is blind it can fail to see the guilty man gets off scot free.
Just as an innocent man wrongly pays the ultimate penalty.