A/N: My second poem in two days. Nice, huh? More at the bottom.
They gather in the square,
grip each other's hands,
stare up at the post,
watch the mayor stand.
He says, "Ladies, gentlemen,
we have caught a thief.
Does anybody wish to
contradict this belief?"
Everyone is silent,
not a word is spoken
until he cracks the whip
and the silence is broken.
He says, "Ladies, gentlemen,
this is this boy's first time.
I'll cut him a little slack-
twenty lashes for the crime."
The boy is tied up to the post,
staring at his feet.
The mayor says, "Now do you think
you should steal food to eat?"
The boy says not a word,
but screams dance on his lips.
They break out, loud and painful,
when he's slashed by the whip.
And when they untie his hands
and he falls to the ground,
the mayor says, quite loudly,
"Bring the next one 'round."
And as they lead the boy away,
a whisper is heard clear-
Rue Hortense has said "Mommy,
do we have to be here?"
Rue never could stand seeing
these harsh, abusive ways.
She's always watching, waiting for
a quiet, peaceful day.
She says in the arena,
"They whip you in public,
and make everybody watch."
Her memories make her sick.
A/N2: Rue Hortense. I like the way that sounds. Anyways, this is based on Rue's comment in THG. It may not be exactly right... but, oh well. Review, si vous plait! Love from Mari!
