Infiltrator (Poetry)

It snuck in like somebody who
gatecrashed the party’s glow
who cares it was a private do? —
too late the host would know
a stranger bent on spoiling fun
had slipped in through the door
no bring-a-bottle but a gun
to raise the profile more

Too late the word got round the room
the ugly rumour spread
like Chinese Whispers through the gloom
then seventeen lay dead
invisible the bullets flew
too stunned to scatter much
and with no warning what to do
all herded into touch

The target was too big to miss
as thirty more fell down
such frantic screaming rose at this
alarm spread through the town
doors double-locked the windows barred
life’s hermits had their day
new laws were passed — the rules were hard —
NO CONTACT — KEEP AWAY!

They’ve found the infiltrator since
identified the face
the episode Death should convince
is an appalling case
of lax security — it’s true
prevention’s the best bet
there’s other killers sneaking through
it isn’t finished yet