Strong for a moment was he
When he thought all was well.
But, he never could foresee
The fallacy of taking for granted
Any forgiveness he felt was due
No matter how he raved and ranted

The jury listened in silent disbelief.
Their faces dark to any truth in his defense.
Nothing that he said revealed
The slightest hint of innocence.
The judge pronounced without delay,
A verdict firm, his fate was sealed.

“There were no witnesses,” he cried,
As they dragged him from the stand.
All certain that his wife had died
From some horrid brutality that
He inflicted out of vengeance
For her popularity. Well, all this sat

Poorly with the town folk
Who smiled when the rope sang
And shot him when it broke.