If you're watching an execution are you expected to know their names?

in chains, shuffle rattle

down newgate row

to the heads, to lose ahead

a mother's weeping in tow

not young, but too young

with dreams of ballroom dancing

who got caught by the tongue

in a single misstep

"he's only a child"

the trumpets heaving along

droning, narrating 

his last ballad in a three step

shuffle rattle step,

the ballad and its rhythm

dont lose your feet, or your head

you should watch where you step

out into the yard

the platform, percussion in time

wooden and sharp,

our own holy shrine

shuffle rattle step crack,

a murderer before him.

the boy at the ax,

in prayer, his hands clasped

thump,

ballroom dreams, in his final rest

his last words were music

and i loved his three step