The Hangman's Poor Gift
The hangman's poor gift
was this: soft hands on their last
of days -- a mean comfort paid with years
of placing the rope just so; of settling
the hood with care -- quieting the
loud world for once, and the
shaking lips. When he
held the knot, and then let go,
he stood back in the dark --
its only sentry.
was this: soft hands on their last
of days -- a mean comfort paid with years
of placing the rope just so; of settling
the hood with care -- quieting the
loud world for once, and the
shaking lips. When he
held the knot, and then let go,
he stood back in the dark --
its only sentry.
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Author's Note
Inspired by the last scene of the film of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood."
Other stories by Philip F. Clark
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Eloquent *
Thank you, Matthew; a kind of dark subject, to which I wanted to lend some human light.
Well done.
*
I think this is beautiful.
Not half bad.
Nice work, Philip! *
Great inspiration. Powerful poem. *
*
"soft hands on the last
of days" Beautiful. *
*, Philip. He perfected his job. Well done.
I like that you've presented us with a perspective we might never have considered. Clever and a bit unsettling. *