the haunting of a victim of drug related offences

for datch

i am summoned by his citizens
blood on their hands
spelling out the attorney general’s court’s atrocities
blood on their hands
at an abolitionist rally at hong lim park
blood on their hands
they shout facing the agc’s office in the uob tower
blood on their hands
they find the prosecutors guilty of murder
end poverty not life
chinese drug lords get a slap on the wrist while
end racism not life
desperate brown bodies like mine drop dead
end oppression not life
without deliberation affix his murder weapon
end exploitation not life
around our own necks
end desperation not life

i am summoned to my wake
this is the first time my hands
are in my mother’s since my arrest
she smiles because i am
finally at peace
and i hope his punishment
for them ends here too

i am summoned home
we cannot say what time the execution will be
answering many prayers since my arrest
no you may not visit he says
but my mother is wailing after
no you may not pass him a message
my sister-in-law drops the phone
no we will not pass him
the morning after clemency was considered
a message on your behalf
they asked if the family could
please come and identify the body
in case there was a mistake with the murder

i am summoned to court
where i am representing myself
because he said i was
breaching due process by seeking legal advice
and representation
all the while the
prison service was illegally
handing our correspondence to
the attorney general’s court
here i win my appeal but
that appeal is appealed immediately
and until the murder can take place

i am summoned into the visitation room
where i have 45 minutes each week to
tell my sister to relay my love to my mom
help her help me assemble my poetry manuscript
by reciting what i’ve committed to memory this week
help create a chilling effect
tell my sister to relay my love to my brother
remember the legal arguments she tells me
tell my sister i love her

i am summoned to the site of my motive
to disrupt the peace and safety of his country
to be left holding this bag
that pays the paycheques of drug lords
and the murderers at the attorney general’s court