Almost A Killer

Almost a killer The window was open the puppy balancing On the sill and fell it wasn't a long fall buy it screamed I cradled in my arms till it stopped whimpering Through me an enormous fear I could kill it if I wanted to I held my hands around its throat its fur soft and silky The puppy continued to sleep safely in my arms I was ten And thought, no one should have that power, but it had surged Through me, the compulsion to kill My hands shook my body trembled violently today I could have Become murderer. I told my brother he shook his head and asked Why I had to make a drama out of everything Later I worked on a farm and saw animals killed But that was for a purpose feeding humanity and not for pleasure I know Had I killed the puppy my life would have been an endless night.