The crack of dawn,
Early morning sun shoots
Across the hudson.
Emotions flood my mind,
Anger-
Fear-
Hated-
And so many more.

Alex’s barge pulls ashore
He walks up the cliff,
Two other men follow
My second presents the pistols.

Alex and I exchange greetings.
He takes a expertly crafted pistol,
Then takes up position
Facing straight toward the city.
The Hudson just over the cliff
Under the shade of a tree.

I take a pistol,
Take up position,
Ten paces away facing him.

We raise our guns.

His second counts,
One two three four five
Six seven eight nine ten
Fire!

I pull the trigger
The flint strikes,
Gunpowder cracks

He fires
The bullet goes above my head.

My bullet hits him in the ribs.

I walk towards him
Filled with regret,
My second pulls me away.

Hamilton is dead.

I’m told,
He never intended to fire.