26 February 1993 / 2 October 2001

I sought some reaction from your face
or just a twitch of a hand

I did the bloody dirty work for you
and see only a light lift of your eyebrow

You tell me to do it again – with a knife
or Kalashnikov, Captain?

“What are the orders now?”
Have you heard the reports   from Moscow or Washington, sir?
Millions...thousands...hundreds...a school...your son
Does it matter?
Do you care?

“My report is on your desk, sir.  Anything else?”
A twitch of muscle in your cheek.

If I held the gun on you,
What would you do?
Would you dare to show emotion
Just crept up behind you
(as you trained me to)
and held the cold metal barrel to your
temple and put slight pressure
to the trigger . . .
Would you sweat?
Would you move?
Would I pull the trigger?

“Is that all, sir?”