You Are Now Poised to Kill, Perhaps to Die

Music: Santa Maria Amar.
Cantigas de Santa Maria. Sequenced by Curtis Clark at The Internet Renaissance Band.

Alpha List Philosophical Poems Poems About Terrorism and 9/11 Sonnets Contents Home 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 need not defend.