Right to Self Defense

The din of the courtroom faded away.

   I had tried but failed to sway

opinion that they claimed as fact

   my guilt, to them, remained intact.

I had fought so very hard

   to convince the prosecuting retard

to take another careful look

   the evidence that was undercooked.

Public defender bumbled about

   got upset when I would shout

that until then I truly believed

   if you aren't guilty, you'll be relieved.

I desperately tried to appeal.

   Everything felt so surreal.

How could I be charged guilty

   of a crime deserving the death penalty?

The sloppy proceeds made me sick

   as I worked so hard to find a trick

to end a nightmare I couldn't wake.

   I begged the guards, give me a break.

"Please just look into my case!

   I swear you'll see it's not my face!"

They just shook their heads at me

   and told me I would never go free.

Sitting here with nothing to lose

   I pull the shank out of my shoes.

In an hour they'll come for me.

   This time I'm prepared, they'll see.

I won't go without a fight.

   An innocent man, it's my universal right

to defend myself from those who'd harm.

   So I'm layering on the charm.

In my heart, it's not a crime

   to take a life meaning to take mine.

I know my freedom I won't succeed

   but one day maybe they will take heed.

I hope when all is said and done

   they remember after having their fun

I took one of their lives with me

   when they find out I was not guilty.

(Awesome challenge. I already wrote a poem about being convicted in spite of innocence. I didn't mind writing another. This happens more often than most people know.)