I sit here looking out at him
From across the distance
I can see his eyes
He is looking at me too

I am the infidel he fears
The invader of his lands
In a war waged by politicians

There’s a sheen of sweat
Beading on his forehead
His beard gently swaying in the breeze
It’s almost tranquil

As if time stopped
Just for me
And in that second
Hours tick away

The sun gleams brightly
Off his white head dress
And the whites of his eyes
As they widen

He is yelling something
Though I don’t understand
I don’t speak his language
Don’t really want to

But I see him

I wonder if he’s a husband
Or a father
I wonder what he did before this
I wonder would it matter

Because I know he is the enemy
They told me so
Then put me here

All these thoughts
All these observations
Happened in an instant

In the time it took
To level our weapons
At each other
From across the distance

His is an AK-47
It looks old
It looks dangerous
Pointed at me like that

I pulled the trigger
And walked away
He stopped yelling

And I knew
If only for a moment
That one day would come
When someone would look at me
From across the distance

Would they have similar thoughts?
When my day came
Would they understand the words?
As I yelled them

Would they know?
That their day would also come?

Or am I the only one
Who understands?
That this is what it is
To live by the sword