Two flowers

1.
Her excellency the High Commisioner
picked dandelions for her silver vase
not knowing they were only weeds
knowing only they were strong, slender, sungolden
How we sneered

2.
Into the black muzzle of my Mauser
she planted her red rose
saying, "peace, peace"
not knowing that my gun is my manhood
knowing only her soft, superficial certainties
I shot her