The Terrorist


His smile was broad;
his teeth gleamed white;
As he held up his arms
In the courtroom light

Such a charming face
That I found at once
My smile was fashioned
In glib response

Then reality surfaced
And the strangled grin
Died on my face as I
Studied him.

The joy which he shows
is religious fervor
Not the warming smile
Of a friend or lover.

His gesturing arms not a
Wave to the crowd, but
A sign of a terrorist
Proud….. unbowed.

The hundreds of lives
Which he took with his act
Of religious 'jihad' will
Never come back.

The families who grieve
And friends with one breath
Swear 'Amrosi the bastard'
Will pay for their death.

Then the truth slowly dawns
'neath his enemy's gaze
and our victory smiles widen
As Amrosi's smile fades.