The Major did not chat
but with a kiss on the cheek
marked each daily encounter.
Surely, we wondered if his temper made us safer:
motorcycles, rural landing strips,
Putumayo.
Charged as guard of a Colombian Vice-President,
a needless Doberman
where a Labrador could have barked.
The Major spoke
into his speech, closed
with the word Presidency,
then went to the cheese table for some cheese.
I sat next to him and was glad
that our first daily encounter
had already been had.
Written 2010