I took the bird’s-eye view he told the reporter
for the Bangor Maine newspaper because
partaking in lynching parties is disagreeable business
especially as it was dog-day hot and the mob
of men and boys argued over which of two trees
nearby to use then settled on a swaybacked oak
near a ditch near the crossroad of two train lines
going which-ways through Bamberg County and then
under the shade they lugged some railroad ties
across this ditch and the victim was made to stand there
while one of the eminent town leaders read from Leviticus
at which time the townspeople quieted a bit but then
some stamped their feet on the red-clay soil
because they wanted to catch the half-past twelve
to get back to their farms and homes and such
so a few local reporters showed them how an execution
ought to work in the regular way hanging then shooting
making this a well-arranged affair then when the rope
was made ready they pulled the ties from under this poor sort
and whilst he danced he was honeycombed with bullets
and some men scrubbed their hands with hoarhound leaves
against the stink of creosote and boys cheered
as the train hustled in sight and it turned out the lynched man
was innocent of an attempt to outrage a white woman
after the guilty man found in Georgia confessed


–– from Poet Lore