A shot or item stolen
By someone, or myself
Maybe both, maybe neither
Crime is crime
Punishment is punishment
Is it innocent until proven guilty
Or guilty until proven innocent?
Either way, someone must pay
For hasn’t everyone done something
Warranting conviction?
Slowly descending into an icy crypt,
Their silence mimics my own
Half are me,
Other aren’t quite as guiltless
Trick is in the knowing
Of which is which
The long-necked key appears
Sliding painfully into its lock
A simple turning, a simple changing
Opens the dark room of misery
Promises of old are fading
They weren’t worth anything anyway.
Now only one oath remains
The silver skeleton proves its trust
And only after five years
Do red bars constrict
Closer with every breath
There’s only a single way out