singing like a canary

i imagine that i wouldn't

stand up

well to torture.

my cowardice is too

deeply ingrained

in my psyche.

i'd give up my own

mother if i heard

a chain saw

rev up, or drill bit

spinning near

my mouth,

or see someone coming

at me with

a scalpel, holding my

hand down.

i'd give them the nuclear

code,

the combination 

to my safe.

the addresses of

my current children,

and those not born.

my country would mean

nothing to me,

if they put me in a cage

with wild rodents.

i'd be singing like a canary

in about three

seconds.