Life Sentence, a poem by Abhinav Aradhi

 

Life Sentence

Maim us, slay us,

Ruin us, tame us.

Lock us up, your honor.
The defense rests its case.

 

Go ahead, Mr. Prosecutor,

Prove to me, your esteemed judiciary overlord,

Why should I let them run free?

Call your first witness.

 

Who is she,

Some cruel little dame?

Let me cross-examine her,

And put her to shame.

 

I’ll make her weep,

And clutch her gilded handbag,

And grasp at her pearls.

She’s a fine witness, that one.

 

Who is he,

Some wicked man?

Objection!

It is not up to a commoner to decide our fates.

 

I shall hope the jury is paying heed,

For it all rests in their grubby hands.

Whether or not I slam my cliche gavel,

And yell out an eternal sentence.

 

Guilty or not,

That is the question.

We all know the justice is infallible,

Don’t we?

 

Take em’ away, bailiff.

Take em’ away.

 

You are in contempt of the court,

And you have contempt to the court,

And that is not allowed,

On this hallowed land.

 

Take em’ away, bailiff,

Take em’ away.

 

Closing arguments, gentlemen?

None?

Alright, then I’m afraid I must declare this a mistrial.

Guilty, all of you.

 

Take em’ away, bailiff,

Take em’ away.