Herbert Nehrlich - Changi

I

He saw her, entering the grounds,
approaching hundreds of
controlled steel gates
of high security.
His flimsy beard
now itched
in recognition,
and needed scratching
by handcuffed wrists.
He shuffled back
into his cell.
leg irons clanging,
all dressed in
orange red.

II

She walked, as in a trance
and guided now
by blurry vision.
She did not notice
the foreboding and
so sobering high walls
of Changi. Didn't see
the giant letters
on the balustrade,
and, thankfully,
stayed unaware
of mocking smirks
and furtive glances.

They'd really do it.
And the thought,
a silent scream
now gripped her heart.

The heart responded
and whispered
words of comfort
until she knew
what would be done.

She shouted at the walls,
'take me instead,
I am the one you want
and not afraid to die! '

The walls stared back,
devoid of passion.
The grounds stayed silent,
as not a word
was ever heard.

It was as if a dream
had now replaced reality,
and words just would
not come.

A flock of doves
flew up into the sky,
disturbed by
just one noise,
inside the chamber
where the witnesses had gathered.

A thousand thoughts away
the head of state
was cheering on the team,
on VIP seats in the stadium.
The match did last,
and half the fun
was sheer anticipation
until the day of action.

It was a real slaughter.
And half-time came
when words were heard
among the bodyguards.

Then, casully, their boss,
with reddened face,
exclaimed, 'we did,
we surely killed the bastards.'

Herbert Nehrlich

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/changi/