The Quiet Earth we watched that day
A film where the world ends
Two young friends were with me
I said to one of them
She has chucked me
We were high on hashish
He said 'Why not kill her'
The other friend said 'go on here is the knife'
Handing me his father's Ghurka
I got into the car and sped to three towns away
Four separate things tried to stop me.
A traffic policeman, A lollipop lady, A dustcart
And her brother in a car coming down the drive.
I got out of the car and walked to her
She was standing by a washing line
I had the knife in my hand
She said, 'Why did you do it?'
I stabbed her six times and slit her throat.
She collapsed and died.
Smiling slightly.
I went to the car, ditched the knife as I was driving
And went to the post office.
I bought an interail ticket and left for Europe the next day.
6/6/1994