You Are Now Poised to Kill, Perhaps to Die

Alpha List Philosophical Poems Poems About Terrorism and 9/11 Sonnets About This Site Poems for Free Copyright by Nicholas Gordon

You are now poised to kill, perhaps to die, To perpetrate the ultimate offense, To plead, perhaps, the warrior's defense: The crime is mutual; not mine the why. You want, of all times, this time not to lie, Or be beguiled by righteous innocence, Or find in such a nightmare common sense, Or give to grief some comforting reply. You know that war is evil, yet you must Engage in acts unspeakable and cruel To serve some oft-miscalculated end. And though the cause be criminal or just, You need not be a villain or a fool To yield to furies you cannot defend. Copyright by Nicholas Gordon. Free for personal or non-commercial use.