The Commissioner of Dread
       

There's this chance you'll come home one afternoon
to find a rabid raccoon on your steps.
Don't think of scaring it. Don't think.

You won't always avoid whatever's deadly—
tornados, viruses, infernos, venoms, radioactivity,
fumes, thinking too much or too little.

When conscripted, your children will learn
that quiet weapons work best, silent ones so automatic
soldiers needn't give thinking a thought.

Everyone knows there's something out there
about to become visible to our telescopes.
It doesn't think. It doesn't have to.

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Copyright © 2016 William Aarnes All rights reserved
from Do In Dour
The Aldrich Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission