Texas death row

got this book from work
called 'texas death row, executions in the modern era'
has pictures of the people texas killed since early 80's
along with what their crime was
has age, former occupations, last meal, last statements.
the executions jump almost 80 or 90 percent
when georgy w bushy junior was governor
a lot of them seemed to have steak as last meal
but it varied, some had fried chicken
cheeseburgers and fries, pizzas..
but one dude,
named Castillo, who was killed sept 23 1998
had quite an appetite before he went
last meal:
24 soft shell tacos, six enchiladas, six tostados, two whole onions, five jalapenos, two cheeseburgers, one chocolate shake, one quart of milk,
& a bowl of jello.
some of the last statements that stood out for me:
one guy said:
"I didn't kill no one, so kiss my proud white Irish ass, I'm ready warden"
one black man's last statement was:
"I am an African warrior, born to breathe, and born to die."
lots just prayed or mumbled about take me home now lord
another last statement:
"here lies a man who loved women. I've always been that way"
then he tried to slip out of his leather straps on the gurney
that kept him connected
to the intravenous tubes carrying the solution
of lethal drugs. as he tried to free himself, he said,
"I can see no reason for my death."
the warden & prison chaplin held him still
until the lethal dose was begun.
one guys last statement
was simply "peace"
some said nothing, ate nothing,
one man said
"there's no man that is free from all evil, I love y'all, take care"
all in all the book lists 222 people the state of Texas murdered,
these weren't exactly nice guys,
rapists, killers, child molesters, all around psychos
i guess I have
never given the death penalty much thought
but if I was sitting on death row
thinking of my last meal and statement
the thoughts would come

This poem Copyright 2001 Nicholas Morgan.

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