If you chance upon a bonfire in your travels
as you go
Would you ask the guy upon it some things
folk would like to know
Has perspective from his vantage
changed his mind one bit
Or does view above the gallows
convince him right of it
Was it treason, treachery or a fight
for freedom bid
Would he try again to be shot of them,
politicians, all well rid
Were voices raised in passion but denied
a listening ear
Did he do it with a brave heart or a soul
choke-filled with fear
Did desperation drive him and does he think
we’ve learned a thing
About method and its madness, the results
some actions bring
Would they better listen now to the cries
of human rights
Or is power the same oppressor
the same old history to fight
Was it carelessness or vengeance that denied
his V for victory
Were there moments he regretted when
admitted he his plea
Was he guilty of the horror of a terrorist
home-grown
Was there quite no other way to go, all other options,
had they flown
Does he take November note of fireworks
and blast them all to hell
Was he demon, daring hero or a
roguish ne’erdowell
In your travels, if you see him, would you
ask the guy on fire
If the pyre is worth the burning, would he,
yet again, conspire
While they lift his carcass high to brilliant
colours in the sky
If you see him as you’re passing would you ask him
if again he’d try
Was persecution, bigotry
rife on both the sides
And does he see more clearly from on high, please
ask him to confide
If no answer is forthcoming from that effigy
they lift
Tell him hindsight colours history and let him
plead the fifth.
scottishmomus 