the firing squad

They marched
in single file
like
toy-soldiers
automatons
breathing,living
hence
more dangerous

masked
alien
beliefs
fighting for
someone else's
figment of imagination

they lined up
facing me
against the wall
no escape

one barked
any last words

I should
have smiled
and said
fire away
but my bravado left
me
and my
mouth was
parched
silent
 heart
beat loudly
for the
last time

A volley
of shots
thuds
that rocked
me

I smiled
foolishly
as I bled
painlessly
and needlessly
into the mud
and
wondered
at the peace
and the
calm
that
passing away
had
brought
finally

I think
I was
also
trifle
disappointed
at the
lack of hysteria

it also
brought
home
the uncomfortable
notion
that
i may have
valued myself
highly
but was
absolutely
dispensable
in the
natural
scheme of things