Six Times Yassen Tries to Kill Ian and One Time He Succeeds (and other stories)

Night Watchman

If Alex knew

That, just behind the door,

A dead man sat,

On the doorstep,

A gun cradled in his arms

(Because this man is an assassin

Not a father

Or a lover

Or a friend.

This man is an assassin:

He kills.)

Then he would open it.

The door.

Push down the handle

And sit down

On the doorstep

Next to the assassin.

But he is asleep,

And the assassin is a dead man.

So, Alex won't,

Because

In the lights of the streetlamps,

In the night air,

In the silence of sky velvet

And the breathing of lonely people,

The assassin sits,

Watching

And no-one knows he's here.

He is the guard dog of the house.

Pretending to be.

Just for one night.

If Alex knew,

Alex would join him,

But the doorstep is blank next to him

And Alex is asleep.