| Green and wet is the May grass encircling me in the cemetery sea. Surrounding tombs sink in the gumbo, Whitecaps moving nowhere. Now I'm standing next to it. The enigma reduced to a whitewashed grave. Set on the edge–smaller than an 8 x 6 cell. I, too, am on the edge. This anniversary date proclaimed for all who are not here to see. A year ago this was news. How the animal so carefully hidden away had come out and devoured a man–my brother. No one could stop it. Not the social workers, parole officers, enlightened judges, belated family, sympathetic clergy, New York lawyers or me–no one could stop the animal. Now does the hangman look to the future, six-pack firmly in tow. Now do good citizens feel secure in the order of the law. A breeze dangles down and my tinfoil-wrapped flowers rustle sharply on the small chalky plain where in the end all are supposed to be equal. I stand and watch. Remembrance beyond grief, and the air is reluctant about me. |
[Ed: Dalton Prejean was executed May 18, 1990 in Angola's electric chair.
Guilbeau was Prejean's trial attorney.]
Thomas E. Guilbeau
106 West Congress Street
P.O. Box 3331 Lafayette, LA 70502
337.232.7240 fax 337.232.7309 800.323.6120 info@thomasguilbeau.com
