The Charming Man

To the flame and to the slaughter,
He is on the stage.
His wit, his smile,
This easy poser, who shall be his prey?
They are the weak, the lonely,
The ones who stand outside.

To those inside - he's sharp, precise,
To those outside - assassins’ knife.
Deadly.
And all around - when he’s done -
weep the gentle hearts.

Crushed - bleeding
death delivered -
silenced by his words.
So should we pity his delusion -
devoid of love
self-sustaining?

Ask his victims

‘Beware the charming man’

They say

Image; Art Johnstone. ‘The Charming man’. Pop-up Globe. Auckland. New Zealand.