True Civilisation

The Judge said:
"In honour of true civilisation,
the death penalty hereby
stands abolished."

The crowd cheered in the streets.
Activists claimed victory.

Subzero temperatures—
snow fell through the night.
The morning newspaper
carried a small item:
how many had died
while sleeping rough.

They slept rough—
now in a dignified sleep,
on the morgue’s shelves.

Dignity afforded
only after death—
how the poor may enjoy
the civilisation’s bliss.