Wyndham Gaol in Wyndham Towne

In the beginning there were holes in the ground
and ladders were lowered into them so the prisoners could climb down in to their cages.

The ladders were then
withdrawn.

Within these walls
no one hears
therefore no one sees
pits
folly
goddamn sad
the way things are

Standing before the wisemen
that had long since given up
their robes too justly
to justly rob me
and pay the fine
extract the pound of flesh
and pay the fine
and line themselves
align themselves
malign themselves
and so it does not end

In the beginning there were holes in the ground
and ladders were lowered into them so the prisoners could climb down into their cages. Thirteen steps into darkness and dust, with rats as their only companions.

The ladders were then
withdrawn.

We sleep restless nights
tossing, turning
until someone dares to talk of nightmares
the dreams of these incarcerated
who stand near me
and around me

Someone calls out her name
and moans
or sobs
and while he sleeps
their lovemaking is complete
he tosses
churns
we watch and curse
and remember the soft thighs
that once comforted us

and the guard simply closes the gate
close the gate
do you hear
clear
clear the yard
and close the gate

Then someone gets a book by that faggot
who wrote so earnestly about being earnest
honest
and this place becomes
the reading jail and this man has got to swing
and somehow we aren't thinking
of the Duke and the notes he played
at the playland with the bubbles
and tittering women that have worn out
their low-cut and plunging necklines
necking 'long the boardwalk
saying yes and giving up
piling silk things under the pier
pedal pushers and all
and pushers and dope and stuff
and this man has got to swing

In the beginning there were holes in the ground
and ladders were lowered into them so the prisoners cloud climb down into their cages. Thirteen steps into darkness and dust, with rats as their only companions. Splintered wood for a floor and walls of hand-hewn dirt dug by the fingers of the one who lived there.

The ladders were then
withdrawn.

judgment plays well in other areas
of the state mind you the state
has other areas
and judgments play ever so well

they do not hear the silent tears
of the men who sleep hear
but that doesn't surprise anyone
the guy in the next bunk
doesn't hear him
either
and even if he did
he wouldn't say anything
but would make believe
he was deaf
in that starry, starry night
we'd make believe
we were both a little insane
and we'd forget that we were both crying
and we'd thank the lord
that we didn't have to cut off
our ears

they'd turn
and toss themselves
to the wall
turn top the wall
to the wall
and toss and turn
in miserable sleep
as the faggot's poetry
drifts
down about the brave man
kissing the coward
or killing someone
or something
and that man had to swing
and they'd loose themselves in that
daily nightmare
or is it lose themselves
does it matter

In the beginning there were holes in the ground
and ladders were lowered into them so the prisoners could climb down into their cages. Thirteen steps into darkness and dust, with rats as their only companions. Splintered wood for a floor and walls of hand-hewn dirt dug by the fingers of the one who lived there. No window.
No door. Just the light through the metal bars above and a rusted bucket to carry food and waste.
Except for the rats, alone in the ground .

The ladders were then
withdrawn.

M.S.Leavitt
"jd4george"