Odel Barnes Poem by Cerys Grant

Odel went through these dark halls of hell,
because a jury sent his soul down a well.
They didn't give him that much time,
to pay for the silent witness' crime.

Odel Barnes, your name has been smeared.
But one day you will be posthumously cleared...

But what does that mean?
To his sister that's seen,
life drain from his eyes,
and in death he now hides.

Now why is there a stranger from another land,
that can see there was no blood on his hands?

Now Odel Barnes is finally free!
But not in the land of the living,
so he can never be.

Odel, Odel,
I know your name so well!
A martyr for America's crime.
An unsung hero,
that will never have time.

We can say all that 'nothingness',
about your soul being with God!
But it's just not enough.
The pain was too hard.