Untitled Poem for the 573 by Maggie Munday Odom

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice runs a database containing the last words of each of the 573 prisoners that have been executed from 1982 to September 2021. What follows is a found poem compiled from the last statements of these individuals.

Be quiet, please./

In the catacombs of justice/

Be quiet./

What is about to transpire in a few moments is/

So called justice/

But/ 

Today you’re committing murder too./

What you're about to witness now/

It's irreversible./

The Bible says that you shalt not kill, but it also says/

You cannot rectify death with another death./

Society/

Hatred in their veins/

Hollered for my life./

They/

are to have my life tonight./

This execution is not justice/

If this is justice, then justice is/

Shackles and chains./

There are no second chances./

I call this/

Rage./

Politicians/

With/

Zero respect for human life/

Fixing to pump my veins with a lethal/

Inhumane/

Drug/

That the/

American Veterinary Association won't even allow to be used on dogs./ 

State sanctioned murders/

Right here in America./

Right here tonight/

I am worse off than a dog./

Them without the capital get the punishment./

Them with/

The capital/

Get the/

Power to determine if I should live or die./

The with/

The capital/

Get the/

Power of God in/

Their own hands./

Tonight, we tell our children/

That/

In some cases, killing is right./

I hope you don't find satisfaction/

In/

Killing me tonight./

I hope you don’t find/

Comfort/

In/

Watching a human being die./

I hope you don’t find/

Peace/

In/

More/

Tragedy./

Make sure the kids in the world know/

It's not right to kill anybody./

Life is not supposed to end this way/

A miscarriage of justice./

When/

the system/

kills/

we are all diminished./

Keep this fight going./

Boycott every single business in the state of Texas./

But/

Not/

In time to save my life./

If my death gives you/

peace, so be it./

But my death doesn't bring your son back/

So/

No one wins tonight./

No one walks away victorious./

At this moment/

As I lay here taking my last breath/

I extend my undying love/

To/

Mom/

Mother/

Momma/

Dad/

Daddy/

Pop/

Uncle/

Son/

Warden/

All you know is hatred./

Get some peace tonight./