I Am Powerful


      by Martial Frindethie

          I am powerful in the nation of men.
          If you give me a gun,
          though I have the swamp above my waist,
          I'll go further in the wood, deep in the forest,
          crushing the bugs against my shoulders,
          sweaty and feverish in the hot jungle.
          I will kill a man, make a widow, and raise an orphan.
          I am powerful in the nation of men.
          If you give me your reason,
          by sundown, I'll quiet down the birds forever,
          and feed the carrion, and sell your opinions,
          and kill those who have not.
          I will aim at these eyes and pull the trigger
          and look for their blood and make sure it's green,
          as you told me.
          And I won't give a damn if their blood is red, like mine,
          'cause they'll be dead, 'cause their blood can't be red, like mine.
          I am powerful in the nation of men.
          Just give me a gun; you'll own me.
          I'll preach your hatred; I'll bring you your heads,
          'cause I don't give a damn.

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