Forgive me father I have sinned.
He was a hidden enemy who took delight in thwarting me.
I don’t know how I gave offence, his friendliness was pretence.
He constantly destroyed my dreams by underhanded evil schemes.
When I discovered all he’d done, I said nothing to anyone.
Then I destroyed my enemy. I planned his murder carefully
Paid great attention to detail and formed a plan that could not fail.
He had to pay the penalty in such a way that I went free.
His death must seem an accident, nobody knew of my intent.
My conscience doesn’t bother me because I killed my enemy.
His hatred of me made him blind to the snare I had designed.
He thought that when he turned the key, the lift would fall down crushing me
But I had rewired the lock and he received a fatal shock.
I think that I was justified in planning how and where he died.
He was intent on harming me instead of which died instantly.
I acted in my own defence. His spite and his malevolence
Have made a murderer of me but I can still sleep peacefully.
I confessed my sin openly; my parish priest has absolved me.
He bid me go and sin no more. He need have no doubt on that score.
The deed which I was driven to, I won’t repeat and that is true.
My secret enemy is dead. It might have been me in his stead.
27-Apr-08
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Ivor, Thank you so much. This is great and is an example of an art that is so British. In my worrying over technical details of use of words and structure, i come across poems written by yourself that combine these things with such ease. This is a great example of your work sir, may there be many more.