Last Rights

Me and my camarades.
We were just doing our job.
She was commitment
for a cause, her tenet, some belief.

Will never forget until I die
the fierce glare from her eyes,
Gauloises odour from her breath,
her presence in my face.

Scared, we both exuded fright
shaking frozen in sunshine.
The silence was like thunder
echoing from her pupils.

Nostrils enflamed like a dragonne
with venom. She looked
just like ma Mère lost.
Her sort of age; I guess.

Tension grew at pace.
Inner strength diminished.
Voices screamed through my head
tormenting the cranium.

Then the first shot…