The beauty and the beast By Ethel Marie Bowman  I went to see my little boy who's grown to be a man. He no longer needs to nurse the breast but would love to hold my hand. His lawn is tended carefully. His grass is emerald green and the roses in the walkway beds are the loveliest I've seen. The gardeners are dressed in white and they trim the stems so straight of each breathtaking rose bush beyond the silvery gate, The perfect blooms are pink and red and some peppermint striped. Exquisite flushing yellow blooms gold, tangerine and white. A garden sweet and lovely. A wonderful to be. Lush lawns one would be proud of for everyone to see. From the silvery gate in the distance I see the sun cast sparkling glints off the diamond points of razor wire coiling atop the fence. The halls are stark gray concrete. I visit in a gray steel room no beauty in the glass between us in a atmosphere of gloom. Leave taking is grievous and sad; hiding my tears is hard, I walk again among the roses pain clutching at my heart. I inhale the perfumed beauty, as a starving man would feast. And cry for my precious first born son who lives within the beast. God's roses, lawns and beauty are for all a joyous delight. Razor wire, steel and concrete are the beast that haunts me at night.

Written for Ronnie Styron Jr. By his mother E.M.B. 8/8/00

This was written by my sister Marie for my nephew (her son Ronnie(Ronford L.Styron(#999124) who awaits his execution on May 16th 2002. Our hearts are breaking and our lives are at a stand still......we are only concentrating on how to possibly put a stop to this! God bless you for all you do!   Jammie D. Cody P.S. You have Marie's full permission to use this if you like as long as Ronnie's name is mentioned! Thank you!