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Jon's Folly
by
Josh Leichliter

​
Jon was a pauper
Jon had no penny
for penance he owed
well Jon counted twenty
one for a lie
two more for grinning
three for a laugh
at least four more for sinning
five would be had
for the sixth time he begged
but seven more favors
saw eight people dead
nine times he cried
for ten that they buried
eleven life terms
from twelve on the jury
Jon was convicted
poor Jon would be dead
the favors he owed
worth more than his head
Jon was just thirteen
fourteen on the fence
‘twas fifteen more hours
till his sixteenth offense
seventeen lashes
with an eighteen foot whip
left nineteen bones broken
and twenty more split
Jon regrets lying
Jon laments sin
for penance he owed
he paid with his skin
Shall we begin again..?

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