Don’t let it be by the gun, rather a pun,

a word or a thousand in line, revised,

perhaps, but would rather leave each sentence

delivered as the judge requires, laid down law,

mistaking my zest for apathy,

not so,

it is just a work in progress that is over half way passed

and should there be need for an additional

chapter or appendix whipped out

before it bursts into paper shreds, then let the pen decide,

let life be snuffed out by the nib,

no sword, barrel looked down upon, the pen commits

more murders and solves them in the same stroke.

Ian D. Hall 2018