A butterfly lights
on the sniper’s sight
and waits for him to explain
Going out
an exuberant boy in camo garb
and face paint
a hunter;
coming back
a somber man with hollow eyes
and bloodied hands
a killer
Three times he had the shot lined up
three times he lost his will
three times he heard his father say
“Always eat what you kill”
Marv Himmel
January, 2013 ©