This is fiction. To say that it is based on a true story is stretching it
considerably. I c o u l d have been the girl who is on trial, but then a lot of us could say that. [Right?} I suspect that cowardice had more to do with my failure to 'snap' than anything as admirable as self-control. 'Morals?' On one occasion, I remember saving my brother by hurling myself. . .never mind. There should have been a lot of times.
Thank God guns were a not as plentiful back then. Never one on the premises.
There but for the grace!!! Thank you for being here. Love, Peace, and Freedom. . .Happy and Healthy Children!!
Judge, Judge Not-?
Ladies and gentleman. a prosecutor shuddered,
Fingering his rep tie and silk-wool vest,.
The girl murdered her mother. Her mother!
The least you can do is put her to death.
Evidence shows a single shot to the head
Killed the victim instantly. Pow!!
The accused and her sibling may not have been fed,
But that is not at issue. Remember that, now..
The victim was cruel, you heard witnesses say.
She whipped the two bloody. She shut them away.
Locked up and escaped to a bar a couple days..
Leaving them with little to do but pray.
I love my kids, the victim has been said to say..
Got things to do, don't I!. Can't say I spare the rod..
So I leave the odd mark on their hide . .hey!
I am human, not fornicatin' God..
For the defense's part, they took the risk
Of calling the accused to the stand. So blue,
She was mute, then sounded oddly brisk,
She sighed toward the end, I am human, too.
I knew it was a crime when I killed Mother.
I know I deserve the Chair.
But no one -- no one -- hurts my little brother..
She broke his arm! She pulled out his hair!
I tried to get someone to help. I did.
It was her or him, I swear.
Don't try to hide when she blows her lid,
so I get out her gun and wave it in the air.
Mother caught me by the wrist and twisted,
and that is when I fired, and only then...
Brother a brother, right? Big sister, big sister?.
Can't help but think I would do it again.
The jury tried and tried to decide.
Nearly all were parents themselves.
But all had been children at one time.
Empathy for the child simply overwhelmed.
Media pretended to be scandalized.
Commandments were waved in protest.
If only you could have seen her eyes --
that jury member said it best. . .except
I knew it was a crime when I killed Mother.
I know I deserve the Chair.
But no one -- no one -- hurts my little brother.
She broke his arm! She pulled out his hair!
LEARN, GIVE, PARTICIPATE -- H E L P STOP ABUSE!::
