25 minutes to go.

They're buildin' the gallows outside my cell.

I got 25 minutes to go.

And in 25 minutes I'll be in Hell.

I got 24 minutes to go.

Well, they give me some beans for my last meal.

23 minutes to go.

And you know... nobody asked me how I feel.

I got 22 minutes to go.

So, I wrote to the Gov'nor... the whole damned bunch.

Ahhh... 21 minutes to go.

And I call up the Mayor, and he's out to lunch.

I got 20 more minutes to go.

Well, the Sheriff says, 'Boy, I wanna watch you die'.

19 minutes to go.

I laugh in his face... and I spit in his eye.

I got 18 minutes to go.

Well...I call out to the Warden to hear my plea.

17 minute to go.

He says, 'Call me back in a week or three.

You've got 16 minutes to go.'

Well, my lawyer says he's sorry he missed my case.

Mmmm....15 minutes to go.

Yeah, well if you're so sorry, come up and take my place.

I got 14 minutes to go.

Well, now here comes the padre to save my soul

With 13 minutes to go.

And he's talkin' about burnin', but I'm so damned cold.

I got 12 more minutes to go.

Now they're testin' the trap. It chills my spine.

I got 11 minutes to go.

'Cuz the goddamned thing it works just fine.

I got 10 more minutes to go.

I'm waitin' for the pardon... gonna set me free

With 9 more minutes to go.

But this ain't the movies, so to hell with me.

I got 8 more minutes to go.

And now I'm climbin up the ladder with a scaffold peg

With 7 more minutes to go.

I've betta' watch my step or else I'll break my leg.

I got 6 more minutes to go.

Yeah... with my feet on the trap and my head in the noose...

5 more minutes to go.

Well, c'mon somethin' and cut me loose.

I got 4 more minutes to go.

I can see the mountains. I see the sky.

3 more minutes to go.

And it's too damned pretty for a man to die.

i got 2 more minutes to go

I can hear the buzzards... hear the crows.

1 more minute to go.

And now I'm swingin' and here I gooooooooo....

Sheldon Allan Silverstein

Poem analysis 

In 25 minutes to go, the writer uses various literary devices and words to bring across his message more clearly as well as add heavier emphasis on the idea of his poem.

The writer uses anaphora in the poem in a way that he repeatedly includes the number of minutes left in his poem after each sentence. The number of minutes left is written after each continuous sentence. This creates a very rushed effect on the person reading it as the person will be consistently reminded of the number of minutes the poet has left. Apart from creating a very rushed effect, it also causes the reader to want to continue to read on and not want to stop because of the curiosity and urgent desire to find out what happens after the last minute. The poet intentionally uses anaphora in the poem as repetition is able to secure emphasis and also further increase the intensity of the message of the poem. In this case, the amount of minutes left is greatly emphasized because of the use of anaphora. This appeals to the reader’s emotions, pathos, as the reader will feel more anxious and curious to find out what happens at the end, thus wanting to read on.

Also, in the poem, words and phrases with negative connotations are used to express the poet’s anger and unhappiness in the poem. For example, the word ‘damned' carries a very angry and violent vibe which suggests that the poet is angry to the point where he's very close to using violence. The phrase 'spit in his eye' also suggests that the poet's anger has led to him beyond his internal feelings and has caused him to use physical expressions to show and display his anger. 'Cuz the goddamned thing it works just fine' tells the reader that the poet was hoping for the trap to be faulty and not work. This suggests that the poet still harboured the thought of not getting executed immediately.