by LB Sedlacek
Chapbook: Hemlock Suicides..(2004)
p. 27
Rough plastic
sealing
rectangular spaces
shielding
fluorescent bulbs
all white hot, bright
preparing
to send the fly
now buzzing about
to the electric chair
for the crimes of wrong place, wrong time
like a traveler
passing
through
on vacation
just in time
to decide between revolt, safety
all the while
having
to ignore or believe
proclaimed leaders holding out pens with thick
papers
luring
willing victims into
flashbulb fantasies, paycheck security.
Still,
all the fly has to do to seek refuge
is to flee into the rafters
seeking
escape through cracks in brick walls.
But the fly is too comfortable to change
even though
next to the lights it's white hot, bright
until the bulbs burn out, the structure falters
which never leaves
enough of a skeleton for a proper burial.
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Title of Poem: "A Fly's Journey To the Electric Chair"
Poet: LB Sedlacek.
Rating: 5 olives
LB Sedlacek's poem "A Fly's Journey To the Electric Chair" deals with the social issue of death by electric chair.
Death by electric chair was abandoned by many countries.
The electric chair is usually given to people who committed the most heinous crimes against humanity such as cold-blood murder, killing babies, rape and murder, etc.
The main character in the poem is the fly that is killed by electric chair. The fly can actually escape death if it only knew that it was landing on an electric chair.
Humans can also avoid death the electric chair if humans only know that the crimes they commit will land them in an electric chair.
Flies cannot think like humans. A fly will land on an electric chair by accident because the fly does not know an electric chair's function.
A man will land on an electric chair either for four reasons - a. he committed a heinous crime willlingly, b. he was paid to kill or to commit a heinous crime, c. he was framed for committing a heinous crime, d. he was pushed beyond his patience that he committed a heinous crime.
The worst thing that can happen to a person is to be given a death penalty by electric chair or lethal injection when such person is innocent.
Avoiding heinous crimes is the best way to avoid death by electric chair. Man has a choice between avoiding heinous crimes or committing heinous crimes.
The recent news in March 2005 reveals that Scott Peterson is a candidate for the death penalty. Scott used his free will unwisely. His crime led him to death penalty.
Sedlacek's poem is very timely.in describing such person like Scott. We can say that people who commit heinous crimes willfully have a brains of a fly.
Sedlacek's highly symbolical poem is nominated "The Best Poem of the Year 2004" for the Muses Review Awards for Poetry.
Swatting At Sunlight
by LB Sedlacek
Source: Hemlock Suicides... (2004)
p5
It may happen in the distant future
when curiosity no longer kills
for getting too close
burning eyes, frying skin.
Swift, quick moves
and mathematical calculations
or chance
to break the fiery barrier
One day we may land
on the burning surface
and live for more than a second
discovering if the atmosphere is friendly or not
Probably, we will never know
But if you catch your cat swatting a sumbeam
watch him closely
'cause maybe he's been to the sun before.
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Available in print.
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You can buy Sedlacek's chapbook "Hemlock Suicide by Well-Dressed Men in Suits" through his email:
[email protected]
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