Please don’t point br that gun at me. br br I can crystal-gaze br looking into the barrel br and see my future br unfolding. br I see blue skies br and moonlight br mountains and br meadows. I feel br warm hugs and br stolen kisses. br I taste flavours br that will never be. br I hear heartening claps br and footsteps br of my great br great grandchildren. br br That barrel br is a time machine, br I see my past br laid threadbare. br Of friends and school bells br my favourite blue plaid skirt. br Exam halls and first love br Mama’s dal br and dada’s eyes. br I see them all br looking into that br unpitying barrel. br br Please don’t point br that gun at me. br Here, let me put br this flower into that barrel. br It’s wilting br but it carries br the fragrance of my lover. br br Please don’t point br tha… br BANG.