five oaks at the top of the hill
and so the rest of story can be told
now that the sheriff and his deputies
have been stripped of power
marched to the top of the hill
tried with haste and quickly
hung from the row of mighty oaks
it was a reddish pinkish dawn
and the dead men looked surreal
hanging there amongst tears and disbelief
amongst joyous cheers
and raucous jeers
historians and poets and other writers
as well as various artists
work feverishly before their inspiration
is lowered to the ground and taken
away by various men without faces
why women marched their children
up the hill
was a matter of personal perspective
and if you asked any one of them
chances are they would not tell you the truth
long after the hanging this town will continue
to be under attack from inside
as well as out
and all those who participated at the top off the hill
whether actively or passively
will sooner or later come to understand
how one must die for the sins of many
october two thousand seventeen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
