Firing Squads

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FIRING SQUADS by J. A. Emanuel Firing squad, Metal-lipped, and blind to what they see, rifle sights pointed like testimony cut up, regrooved, tooled into line, trigger fingers light as veins coiled in a clock stopped ticking-- dirtywork draftees fertilizing the flag. Firing squad, proud as the Arlington bugler, shining their boots for the burial, shooting salutes to the grieving air: bullets for the hero still soldiering there. Firing squad, bandoliered, bearded as mountain shrubbery, scowling at barefoot traitors tongue-tied at the thought of treason, roped against ancestral trees, jerking at lest like rag dolls dead-tired of it all. Firing squad bedamned-- if it be possible to damn the daily business of this world.

Full description

Poem written by Emanuel, typewritten document, addressing the corruption of the legal system, specifically the death penalty by firing squad.

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  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    300 kB
  • container title
    James A. Emanuel Papers
  • creator
    James A. Emanuel
  • issue
    BOX 5 FOLDER 5, Deadly James, draft A, 1981-1990 (2 of 2)
  • rights
    James A. Emanuel Estate
  • rights holder
    James A. Emanuel Estate