Bully And The Woodchopper
Memory
I have thought of you often
I doubt you ever knew
Manslaughter conviction
1978
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand
Memory
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
I have thought of you often
Memory
I doubt you ever knew
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
Memory
Manslaughter conviction
I have thought of you often
1978
I doubt you ever knew
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand
Manslaughter conviction
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
1978
Outside
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand
Trust and consideration
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
Memory
Outside
I have thought of you often
Trust and consideration
I doubt you ever knew
Memory
I have thought of you often
Manslaughter conviction
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
1978
Outside
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand
1984
Dear Mr Hines
Before extending greetings to you
Perhaps I should reintroduce myself
And he gives his name
American engineer
Who served several months of a manslaughter conviction
In your charge in Mt Crawford in 1978
I do indeed extend warm personal greetings
Appreciation for your concern
And support of me during that time
And apologies for not having conveyed such to you earlier
I have thought of you often
And felt you would be pleased by my success story
My wife and I were reunited
Upon my return to the United States
I continue my career as an engineer
Our sons are now twelve and fourteen
Well-adjusted all-American lads
Seemingly unaffected
By our tragic circumstances in New Zealand
He was in the print shop
He would normally be inside
Under supervision
Until he’d been fully assessed
As I walked through the print shop
My sight took him in
That poor bugger
I can just imagine how he’s feeling
Four year sentence
In these circumstances
With his family
Professional
And there he is in a place like that
And I thought,
‘Hell, how would I feel if I was like that?’
So, I said to the print shop officer,
“Look, I’m taking him off your list
And he’s coming with me.”
And I took him round to the front gate
And then entered his name in the front gate
And signed it
Which gave the authority
For any officer to let that inmate out
In conclusion
I must share with you the lasting
And most appreciated memory
Of your allowing me
Outside the dismal gates of Mt Crawford
To chop wood at your home
I doubt you ever knew
How very much that evidence
Of your trust and consideration meant to me
I could have given him a spade
And put him in the garden
Or give him the lawnmower
Or whatever
But my wood heap was out from the house
On a knoll
Just going down that back road
So it looked straight out
And he’s looking at the city
And it was a warm, sunny day
And I just said,
“Right, okay, well there’s an axe.
I don’t expect you to get blisters or anything
But just get yourself sorted out
Give it a few days
And sort yourself out
Settle down.”
I said, “You’ve got your watch?”
I said, “Quarter to twelve,
Report to the front gate.”
He said, “Right.”
That was it
Memory
Outside
Manslaughter conviction
I have thought of you often
Trust and consideration
I doubt you ever knew
1978
Memory
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand
I have thought of you often
I doubt you ever knew
Outside the dismal gates of Mt Crawford
Memory
1978
I have thought of you often
Trust and consideration
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
Appreciation
I have thought of you often
I doubt you ever knew
Manslaughter conviction
1978
The dismal gates of Mt Crawford
Your trust and consideration
Tragic circumstances in New Zealand