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”Beheading with a sword calls
for specific skill and accuracy.”
He repeats the familiar counsel
all the way from the fringe to the centre.
Father wears pink socks,
his trousers and shirt are light blue,
but still we live between the brothel
and the slaughterhouse.
”When the doomed kneels
you step behind him...”
The people of the fringe
get a chance to see their ruler
when caught and condemned.
”...and fix your eyes
on the middle part of his neck.”
Only two type of people
walk the bridge over the steamy stream:
the executioners and the...
”Ay! After lifting the sword,
you strike from the right side.”