the sound of the chime
of some town hall clock
announced it was time
for head to meet block

no order belayed
no reprieve supplied
as justice delayed
was justice denied

so set to the task
he had his head bowed
the swing of an axe
the gasp of the crowd

decision so made
and sentence then passed
his head was displayed
so lessons would last

but once on the stake
his eyes opened wide
they saw him awake
he hadn’t quite died

and pouring with gore
in scarlet red drips
from jaw to the floor
came words from his lips

“I lived for so long
a life just like any
seen right become wrong
things turn on a penny
so this is no shock
it's mostly my lot
my neck's been on blocks
much more than it's not
so my head's been lost
more often than once
and if this the cost
well, here’s my response"

and then from the street
his torso did rise
made death obsolete
much to their surprise

they took to their feet
with yells, screams and cries
and beat a retreat
averting their eyes

so nobody saw
him take his head down
and fix it once more
then walk out of town

it took quite some pluck
to go to that length
and some called it luck
while others said strength

but now it’s the case
that he lives afar
his head still in place
above a deep scar

reminder he could
have died on that day
and one day he would
but not when they say.