God-given Right
Mary Winters
I like to say one of my little
luxuries is I have never
killed anybody. I have never
run over a child on bicycle.
I have never shot another soldier.
I have never thrown a crying baby
against the wall. I have the
pleasure of innocence
partly through luck and partly
through circumstance. Call it
pseudo-humility, I wouldn’t
take credit for anything else.
Though I enjoy the fantasy
of murder in defense
of my home and my family.
What could be holier
even though I would tell
the priest I am not proud of it.
Of course charges would never
be brought. I would try
to keep it out of the papers.
I would not go on talk show
or sell my story to Hollywood.
My husband’s extra sorry
he went away on business trip
but I always tell him
I can cope with anything.
My son and I are eating supper
when a robber breaks in.
I have no choice.
Without even thinking about it,
I hit him over the head
with an art book
and how the brains do fly.
