In the Next Life, Canto III, stanzas 275-278

He knew that he was plotting to betray
his trading partners, who had placed their trust
in laws of commerce, which he would obey,
but violate those standards now he must.

As luck would have it, though, he got to choose
a carrier that bore a different mark:
an envoy, or a tourist on a cruise.
He set his trap and poised to strike a spark.

The carriers would kneel down on command
if someone with a finger on the switch
would push the right way with the other hand.
It didn’t matter much which hand was which.

The safety exits worked as you’d expect
from something that was once a fuselage.
The vessel’s crew were eager to eject,
not knowing ’twas an act of sabotage.


©2011 Louis A. Merrimac