If You Think I Would Kill You
If you think I’d kill you
I probably would.
Drained skin
Pale lips
Every atom of you quivering
As you drop to the floor.
If you think I’d show mercy
I probably would.
So tell me about your children
And they way they play and laugh
Your daughter’s little canary dress
The way your son throws sticks at cars.
Perhaps then you’ll find
The barrel of my gun
No longer against your temple.
If you think that I’d play with you
I probably would.
Maybe I’d give you a split second
Just enough-
For you to snatch my weapon.
But oho, imagine your surprise
Click.
Click.
Click.
No bullets.
Zilch ammunition.
Because this
Is the gun
I took
From your son
The one he likes to play cowboys with
Your strapping boy
Your precious gem.
Where is he now?
Maybe I know.
But give me a reason
Why I’d tell you.
If you think that I’m lying
I probably am.
I didn’t know
You had a son
Until you told me, just then.
This gun?
It is mine-
Can’t little girls play
Cowboys too?
If you think this is a game
You’re probably correct.
Probably
But not certainly
As you rush to the door
Relief makes you laugh.
Then the knife
Between your ribs
Makes you cry.
I probably would.
Drained skin
Pale lips
Every atom of you quivering
As you drop to the floor.
If you think I’d show mercy
I probably would.
So tell me about your children
And they way they play and laugh
Your daughter’s little canary dress
The way your son throws sticks at cars.
Perhaps then you’ll find
The barrel of my gun
No longer against your temple.
If you think that I’d play with you
I probably would.
Maybe I’d give you a split second
Just enough-
For you to snatch my weapon.
But oho, imagine your surprise
Click.
Click.
Click.
No bullets.
Zilch ammunition.
Because this
Is the gun
I took
From your son
The one he likes to play cowboys with
Your strapping boy
Your precious gem.
Where is he now?
Maybe I know.
But give me a reason
Why I’d tell you.
If you think that I’m lying
I probably am.
I didn’t know
You had a son
Until you told me, just then.
This gun?
It is mine-
Can’t little girls play
Cowboys too?
If you think this is a game
You’re probably correct.
Probably
But not certainly
As you rush to the door
Relief makes you laugh.
Then the knife
Between your ribs
Makes you cry.