Poetry from A to Z *
(* NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge)
E is for… Evidence
~ by Laurel Regan
(Pssst… new here? Welcome to Alphabet Salad! For background on how and why I got involved in both NaPoWriMo and the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, check out this post… and, if you’d like to catch up on my progress to date, my challenge posts are tagged with Poetry from A to Z. Glad you stopped by, and hope you’ll return!)
two murders
four bullets
brown skin?
case closed.
claims of innocence
no fingerprints at the scene
no eyewitnesses to the crime
no tests of (his mother’s) gun
incompetent “expert” testimony
but…
brown skin?
case closed.
Death Row
five-by-eight cell
sometimes solitary
thirty years expecting execution
but…
brown skin?
case closed.
forensic tests, finally
conviction overturned and charges dropped
life spared, freedom granted
three decades lost
brown skin?
case closed.
~ Inspired by Anthony Ray Hinton
Are you participating in any April challenges?
Please share!
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Twitter: writercat
April 6, 2015
Wow! So powerful, Laurel. I love the short, clipped sentences, and the repetition about the brown skin, case closed. It emphasizes the injustice and unfairness so well. Well done.
Cat Gcraham recently posted… E is for Emotions
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thank you, Cat. Much appreciated.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: carleaseburke
April 6, 2015
Sad but true. This brown skinned girl says nice job Laurel. case closed.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thank you so much. Definitely a sad situation.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: toninelsonbiz
April 6, 2015
I’m participating in two blog challenges this month ( A -Z) and the Ultimate Blog Challenge.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Good luck with both!
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: a
April 6, 2015
I’m participating in three challenges: the Ultra, the Ultimate and A to Z Blogging Challenge. I’m blogging about a different part of my personality this month. As you have seen in a couple of posts, it’s all about adventure travel. I usually write about vision loss. But I just wanted to connect with that part of my life again. I hope to pick up some new readers and show my current readers even with vision loss, we can pursue our goals. Thanks for asking.
I found your poem sad, as those things in life are, especially after the fact.
Amy
Amy B recently posted… F is for Fuji-san
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Good luck with all your challenges – I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far!
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: mumbaionahigh
April 6, 2015
Hmm. I loved the rhythm of your words that tell so powerful a tale. I didn’t know one could participate in multiple challenges with one post. I was going kind of crazy trying to think of what to write for each challenge
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
I don’t think there are enough hours in the day to write separate posts for separate challenges… at least not in my world, LOL!
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Chilling — and very truthful — poem.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Definitely a tragic situation.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
It is an interesting coincidence that we both wrote about the same topic. Your poem is far more powerful enumerating the woes based on skin colour discrimination. While my relative’s comment was harmless for those children at the outset but when this thought process becomes deeply ingrained in individuals and the society per se then 3 decades of a life of a brown skinned person get wasted in false conviction. And elsewhere an innocent teenager gets to pay the price of being black by getting killed at the hands of law protectors.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Yes, it all starts somewhere, doesn’t it? So sad.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: BonnieGean
April 6, 2015
Hi,
I am not participating in any April challenges. I’ve decided that this month is for creating new products. Inspired by April flowers, I intend to get my business blooming this month. 🙂
– Bonnie
Bonnie Gean recently posted… Leave the Rat Race Behind to Earn Online
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Sounds like a good plan! All the best with that. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: ajaybpai123
April 6, 2015
Sad but true. Though the world have reached the Moon, our hearts has reached the gutter. RACISM still exists and I have been privy to it a several times in India too. It gives shiver to me.
Ajay Pai recently posted… AJ is hot – Is that a Haiku?
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
It is a very sad situation, and I wish it was different.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: ellytreehugger
April 7, 2015
It’s unfortunately a sad but very often a true situation: case closed! 😉 <3
elly stornebrink recently posted… #A to Z Challenge: E is for … Emotions!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Yes indeed. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: ruchiwriter
April 7, 2015
Powerful poem, loved the make you have written, short, tothe point!!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thank you so much.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
Twitter: FranceneStanley
April 7, 2015
What do humans do to each other? How did we get so mixed up? Your poem brings injustice to the fore. Well done.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thank you, Francene. I wish things were different.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
how brilliantly and powerfully you have expressed the racism existing in this world.
rajlakshmi recently posted… Fishy Fishy
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thank you so much.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – E is for…
This poem is just sad. I sure hope this mentality would change very soon. The A-Z Challenge sounds interesting though. Wish I have time to do the same. Thank you for sharing this poem.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
I certainly hope so as well – it’s a very sad situation.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – F is for…
Twitter: DebbieDoglady
April 7, 2015
This is so relevant to what goes on. Sad statement about current affairs but a brilliant poem!
Debbie D. recently posted… #AtoZChallenge: F is for FACETIOUS
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 7, 2015
Thanks, Debbie. Very sad situation indeed.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – F is for…
well done, Laurel. It is so hard to think of this injustice.
Sammy D recently posted… Five Favorites for Spring
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 8, 2015
Thank you, Sammy. A topic I wish didn’t exist. 🙁
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – F is for…
Hi Laurel.
I’m popping in via the A to Z Challenge, as one of the assistants.
Two challenges in one? Well done.
This poem packed a punch!
I love the staccato rhythm…. 🙂
Writer In Transit & A Minion From The Joyful Brigade
Michelle Wallace recently posted… E is for Eagle Expose’
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 8, 2015
Thank you! Glad you stopped by. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – F is for…
The rhythm of your boy poem is superb. I could almost rap it. The topic is powerful and relevant now. Most of all a Thankyou for these line.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 10, 2015
Thank you very much.
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – H is for…
Few words that say a lot! Well written!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
April 10, 2015
Thank you. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… NaPoWriMo + Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2015 – H is for…
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