The Line and the Guillotine

 Once I saw a guillotine with a long line

of people laughing, cheering as if all was fine.

Until each went and knelt under the machine,

a shock of betrayal on their face could be seen

as the blade fell and cheers rose,

until the next one knelt, his face morose,

Seeing this I wondered if I was mad

For how could they not see what was right in their sight?