They Hung Him High(* An Execution In Iran) Poem by Tony Ogunlowo

And to the place of execution they took him,
a mechanical crane in the clearing stood waiting
a noose on a long rope dangling.
they let him pray one last time
to Allah, the All Merciful
to beg for forgiveness
for the crime he was about to be punished for.
He had killed no man,
nor stolen another man's property
nor taken another man's wife
nor blasphemed Allah.
His only crime
was to love another man
for he was homosexual.
No pleas or tears could sway the judgement,
they put the noose around his neck
and without as much further do
they hoisted him up
his feet dancing in mid-air,
as
they hung him high.