Gruff manner, stoic faces, and strong hands about me
Hold me ready for the ordeal
Pushing me to and fro,
Guiding me across the floor.
Sweeping me from perpendicular
Quick movement, bright lights
Harnessed horizontal
Straps bind me, snug and tight
One arm out, and held tightly bound
A sting and poke, skin pierced
A look of vengeance around
Sterile needle stuck and taped.
Quick gaze about
Faces suddenly appear
A final shout
Witnesses come to see and hear.
Tubes snake into the beyond
Moving rapidly along
The first drug makes me yawn
Images fade, nausea . . .
Bile has no time to arise
The heart stopper
Is sent to paralyze
It is over.
Quickly, quickly, quickly,
They move to sanitize
Brutalize and humanize?
-Steven King Ainsworth Death Row, S.Q P.O. Box C-13201 4-E-81 Tamal, CA 94974