executioner

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"Daily duty" of delivering capital punishment in this piece reminds me of the movie 'Groundhog Day';
a repeating, or cyclic brand of assigned hell.

A picture is built of someone who just keeps buying a dose of death...
one who never learns,
keeps coming back for more -
evil reincarnated one day to the next.
Stanza three about the murders and confession and trial certainly indicates an agent of the state here which looks like an attempt to equivocate a legal, state execution with an extreme sadomasochistic act.
Very tricky idea to relay which could stand a bit of lengthening for the purpose of clarity upon this stance the writer takes.


"small GLASS syringe"
is interesting...
They are still used today, but cost a CRAZY amount of money, which is to say that someone in the business of using them, specifically in medicinal treatment, would be a licensed professional of some "practice"
and
would be a somewhat private or solitary individual naturally invested in such a tool that requires special handling and care. With that, there is a sense of the speaking character being an ominous, calculating loner.

Meanwhile, "Leather Restraints" are referred to as "formal" in the poem.
There are statements that suggest there is a maniacal force behind the syringe, making leather restraints seem rather a reckless implement when combined with compromised thinking of an egocentric entity claiming to be a sense of justice.


It is with this understanding that the "executioner" proves to be devoted to their work as well as their victimized patient.
This reference in the poem certainly lends itself to a sinister, sadomasochistic feel.

The title of 'executioner'
clearly suggests to a reader that there is someone elected to be in charge of delivering death, however
since death by injection is actually done with an Intravenous Catheter connected to several time-aligned drugs, this raises questions about the "small glass syringe"
and throws the consistency in the references off a bit.

A heart, "captive and fluttering" in the one stanza is a great image,
but then in the next stanza,
it is "sitting and waiting".
This is a terrific way to show that emotional centers in someone can be strained, erratic and fighting one minute,
while appearing motionless and idly biding the time, the next.
It may have worked better to do it one of two ways:
To say "first your heart is... then it is..." or simply to list the different states, but as with most poetry,
there is always a reason for the specific wording and it is not always up for debate.


The idea at the very end where a bird might be crushed inside of a fist
takes away from the whole law-ridden structure of one human appointed to kill another idea
and turns the victimized patient into a smaller-brained wayward life form that would seem now less responsible for its actions, yet the judgement, punishment and principle remains the same.
There seems to be a blurred line between who the bad guy really is,
which adds to suspense and begs the reader to question their own morals.


Over all,
the images and ideas that fly in the face of each other in this piece are puzzling,
but if purposely done,
is a good way to keep a solid idea more fast and loose which keeps the reader jumping around nicely.


Finally,
when readers are extremely knowledgeable in the references used by a writer,
it is very satisfying to see that the writer has done their homework.
That, combined with continuity of reference
is a marvelous thing to watch unfold.