Hanging Tree

I once stood beneath a hanging tree,
My back straight,
My neck ached,
But still I stood beneath a hanging tree.

It was a clear autumn day,
As crowds of people came to survey,
I, who stood beneath a hanging tree,
Entertainment for any and all to see.

I started off with a dance,
Some people clapped, others cheered,
Some people seemed to be stricken with fear,
While some spared nary a glance.

As the hours ticked away,
And the crowds thinned out,
Fewer people I saw throughout the day,
Save for the occasional farmer on his route.

But then I was cut free,
As happy as can be,
And my story of old,
Has been told and retold.

A warning for any and all to see,
To never end up like me,
I once stood beneath a hanging tree,
My feet dangling beneath me.

Gabriel Tam Dumais
Staff Writer 

Originally Published in Bandersnatch Vol. 47 Issue 3 on October 12, 2017