The Death Penalty in Australia – a poem

THE DEATH PENALTY IN AUSTRALIA
a poem by Simon Camilleri

–

I weep as lives are taken

By a law so cold and strange.

I wonder why the government

Has not done more for change.

–

I shake my head at such a waste

Oh, what their lives could give!

Who knows what good they could have done

If they were free to live?

–

I hope one day we’ll value

Every life as having worth,

And learn that killing will not solve

The problems of the earth.

–

So do you #standformercy?

And will you stand with me?

And will you weep as lives are lost

Due to this tragedy?

–

Well, just before you answer,

Let me clear something please…

I’m not talking about the deaths

Of Aussies overseas.

–

Though stopping the death penalty

In Bali’s a good cause,

We have a worse injustice

Right at home upon our shores.

–

It’s Australia’s own death penalty.

Abortion is its name.

And every single year

100 thousand lives it claims.

–

I weep as lives are taken

By a law so cold and strange.

I wonder why the government

Has not done more for change.

–

I shake my head at such a waste

Oh, what their lives could give!

Who knows what good they could have done

If they were free to live?

–

I hope one day we’ll value

Every life as having worth,

And learn that killing will not solve

The problems of the earth.

–

So do you stand for mercy?

And will you stand with me?

And will you weep as lives are lost

Due to this tragedy?

(1683)