I saw this black
and white
photograph once
of a Deep South lynching

of two African Americans
(or black guys
as they were termed then)
hanging from a tree

by their necks
eyes closed
(as if they dozed)
dressed in rag clothes

one with his head
to one side
hands untied
a crowd looking on

one white guy pointing
the rest looking
with acute interest
what the two guys did

or why
they were lynched
I had no idea
or why the need

to photograph
a sense of justice?
or threat?
or for a laugh?

I had no clue
but looking at them
hanging there
surrounded by a crowd

I thought
of the Crucified
the Christ
and wondered

if He'd been hanged
by the neck
from some gallows
instead of being

nailed to a cross
and His followers
wore small gallows
instead of a cross

it was alter
His sacrifice
or lessen
the sense of loss?