David Tribe
Retrospective View
Greedy at its spy-hole the hangman’s
expert eye fingered the flesh inside
grey prison clothes, groping for height,
breadth, density and depth. He went
away and made a dummy of equal
mass, for protoplasm is no more than
assayed chemicals. On the last day
the prisoner could select whatever food
he liked. The governor hardly needed
to add ‘within reason’. Tastes were simple
in the circumstances:- roasts and pies
like mother made. Flushing a little
and in a doubtful tone the chaplain
talked of life and death, comforting
but not too comfortable, lest hanging
should appear a Maundy Thursday treat.
The morning light was clear. No knell
or proclamation rang, no posters stared.
They were not needed. Outside
in the street, where nothing could
be seen, a crowd was gathering. They
came as friends and mourners,
demonstrators looking to another dawn,
law and order stalwarts gratified,
but mostly idle locals hoping for
a thud or a strangled scream. Inside
the gaol white fingers clutched the bars
now misting with the morning fog
and breaths. At the appointed time,
mysteriously known, a frisson rippled
through the cells.
Life is so dull today.
Page(s) 76
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