trying to be helpful

I will wear
my boots
that were made
for combat

my camo pants
and my camo shirt

a slouch hat
like the soldiery

with a feather
on one side

fortify myself
with a strong shot
of coffee

a shot of milk

I am a bad-ass man
(I tell myself)
ready again
to do battle

~

he fires a shot
down low
his gun
a guttural grunter

he sets his traps

snares
and stakes
await the unwary stumble

haaarrrreeeggghhh

haaarrrreeeuuuggghhh

he fires a dead breath
in my direction

haaarrrreeeggghhh

haaarrrreeeuuuggghhh

I see it coming
step aside

haaarrrreeeggghhh

haaarrrreeeuuuggghhh

it’s a battle
but I think
I might be winning

haaarrrreeeggghhh

haaarrrreeeuuuggghhh

his aim
is striking every damned hiding place
but mine

~

there are stertors
in the minefield
there are stertors
chasing me
through the air

he’s trying to take down
every movement
every target

his aim
may be a little
erratic
but it’s finding
ever damned hiding place

but not mine

not mine

---

© Frank Prem, 2017

Poem #18: a basket for his lady