ten ways to trick.

from my old poetry file:


I know ten ways to trick a man to stab him
one is to step in to greet him
one is to step away from his greeting
one is to be fast when he thinks you are slow
one is to be slow when he thinks you are fast
one is to show him what you are going to do
and then do something else
one is to show him what you are going to do
and then do it
half a second later than he thinks you have
one is to slow the rhythm and then break the rhythm
one is to make him think so hard he stops thinking
one is to pare him down to pure reflex
one is to be exactly what you seem to be
I know ten ways to trick a man to stab him-
that's what I say out loud
while my partner Snake gets the drop on them
and shoots them in the back.