The
Hurricane
He's the man who has
inspired
songwriters of our
time
While people marched
for freedom
and justice for a
crime
That was dealt upon
a man
known as "the Hurricane"
Became a quest for
justice
and a fight to clear
his name.
He was born in '37
in a New Jersey town
His name was Rubin
Carter,
a kid who'd been around
~
At the age of eleven
he was sentenced to
reform
And by the time he
was 18
a new man had been
born.
His teenage years lost
in the home
he'd built up years
of hate
He had become a fighter
though it couldn't
compensate ~
All his hurt and anger
he pushed down deep
inside
And focused on a new
opponent,
the freedom he'd been
denied.
His body became a weapon
in the boxing ring
While the only thing
that mattered
was his ability to
win ~
For he defeated champions
and added titles to
his name
And in his power and
his strength
he became "the hurricane".
Then on one night in
'66
it all came to an
end
He asked a fan to
drive him home
after partying with
some friends ~
When they were stopped
by police
looking for two black
men
And arrested them
for triple murder
as the nightmare began.
Standing in the court
room
as the verdict was
heard
Tears fell from both
men's eyes
injustice had occurred
~
Sentenced to three
life terms
for the rest of their
years
The Hurricane and
John Artis
could not believe
their ears!
Trenton Prison was
now his home
in a jail cell he
stands
He refused to wear
a number or
the clothes of a guilty
man ~
For the Hurricane's
only crime
was the colour of
his skin
And though they try
to break his spirit
they'll not take the
man within.
While his life outside
had ended
and prison life began
He asked his wife
to divorce him
and hope she undertands
~
By 1975 he'd told
his story
in his book, "The
16th Round"
From his beginnings,
to the Ring
to the injustice he
had found.
After two denied appeals
for a re-trial of
his case
Authorities just shook
their heads
with a look of distaste
~
For he had been found
guilty
by a jury of his peers
And will be punished
for this crime
for the rest of his
years.
Then one day a 15 year
old boy
who had just learnt
to read
Picked up his book
some years later
and heard his silent
plea ~
Immersed within the
pages
learning of Rubin's
plight
He set the wheels
in motion
to help him in his
fight.
He had found a new
friend in Lesra,
this boy believed
in him
He gave him hope and
courage
and the strength to
not give in ~
While fighting for
his cause
he found new evidence
Showing that Rubin
had been set up,
and proved his innocence.
So with the diary of
an old cop
and the abscence of
police reports
The recanted statements
of witnesses
how they lied about
what they saw ~
Taking all this new
evidence
they went to the Federal
Court
This final gamble
that will decide
if justice will be
served at all.
Tensions mount in the
Courtroom
as the judge hears
both sides
Then returning to
his chambers
where he will decide
~
Almost twenty years
have passed
since that fateful
night
When the triple murder
began
the Hurricane's biggest
fight.
All rise as the Court
resumes
as Rubin closes his
eyes
Listening to the judge
rule,
it still came as a
surprise ~
The happiest day of
his life
when he opened his
eyes to see
That at last the fight
was over,
and the Hurricane
was free!
© Christina
18th March, 2002
"This is the story
of the Hurricane....to quote Bob Dylan in his 1975 song "Hurricane".
The story of Rubin Carter touched me deeply, inspiring me to write a poem
in his honour and in dedication. And to the boy who believed in him
to help him fight for justice, Lesra Martin. Rubin's story
is one of terrible tragedy and injustice. But it took the passion
of one boy and his friends, to give Rubin Carter back his faith in mankind
and his strength not to give up. And in the end, justice prevailed
and Rubin "Hurricane" Carter was free again after nearly twenty years in
prison for a crime he did not commit. John Artis, the fan who
was with Rubin at the time of his arrest was also pardoned, and now works
in Virginia cousellening youthful offenders. Rubin moved to
Toronto Canada and began to rebuild his life. He and his ex-wife
have remained close friends. Lesra Martin went on to become a lawyer
in Canada. And that is the story of the Hurricane."
This poem is dedicated
to Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and Lesra Martin
