Strike (A Lesson From Afghanistan)

Originally posted 10/6/2012. Original title, “Drone Strike.”

Early fall,
window has been open for cleaning.
A fly’s gotten in,
sounds like 

one last big bluebottle
for the season with a voice like 
a Dangerbee.  Should look
twice to be sure, but no time for that;
I klll it with one smack

of an already read,
soon to be recycled
magazine.  
Done.  And lo —

it was a
Honeybee.  

How did it seem
so huge?  Tiny, golden thing…

quick: brush it
into the gutter of the window
and then push it out

onto the ground
along with my small regrets,

telling myself 
this would have been done
differently
had I recognized it.