An Extraordinary Rendition

[Wjames]

This might be required reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition

--------

I’ve heard from a shadow, behind the man’s back:
we’ve side-stepped conventions, and covered our tracks.
Of course there are places, to put on a show:
where nobody’s watching, and no one will know.

In cellars of countries coerced and then gagged,
lie kidnapped “combatants”, not charged, but harangued:
accused of abetting vile terrorist scum,
their rights are worth nothing, defending freedom.

[Tiger the Lion]

Hey WJ. I really like that your rhymes are easy in strophe 1 but not so much in strophe 2. Line 5 is my favorite. "In cellars..." the sonics and meter are great. Not sure about the quotes on "combatants". Quotes always feel like over-direction to me. Is there another way you could do it? I dunno. 
Thanks for the read,
Paul

This might be required reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition

--------

I’ve heard from a shadow, behind the man’s back:
we’ve side-stepped conventions, and covered our tracks.
Of course there are places, to put on a show:
where nobody’s watching, and no one will know.

In cellars of countries coerced and then gagged,
lie kidnapped “combatants”, not charged, but harangued:
accused of abetting vile terrorist scum,
their rights are worth nothing, defending freedom.

[Wjames]

Hey WJ. I really like that your rhymes are easy in strophe 1 but not so much in strophe 2. Line 5 is my favorite. "In cellars..." the sonics and meter are great. Not sure about the quotes on "combatants". Quotes always feel like over-direction to me. Is there another way you could do it? I dunno. 
Thanks for the read,
Paul

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, I see what you mean by the quotes perhaps over doing it. I do think without them though, it could be justified (in some people's minds, not mine) to illegally torture enemy combatants, if they are in-fact combatants.

I'd like some others thoughts on that too, if possible.

Thanks for reading

[Tiger the Lion]

Hey WJ. I really like that your rhymes are easy in strophe 1 but not so much in strophe 2. Line 5 is my favorite. "In cellars..." the sonics and meter are great. Not sure about the quotes on "combatants". Quotes always feel like over-direction to me. Is there another way you could do it? I dunno. 
Thanks for the read,
Paul

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Yes, I see what you mean by the quotes perhaps over doing it. I do think without them though, it could be justified (in some people's minds, not mine) to illegally torture enemy combatants, if they are in-fact combatants.

I'd like some others thoughts on that too, if possible.

Thanks for reading

Italics are equally tricky to use but might be a better solution. Sadly, I would consider italics the lesser of two evils though. Still would prefer them to air quotes.