Forensics
The toxic strain was the innovation
Murder, they say, is a matter of imagination
Against the conqueror, it is said that poetry can be a weapon
Something quite potent that might trigger prompt retaliation
For in the throes of reactionary passions
These men in khaki oft favored assassinations
The tawdriness of the violence that becomes the thin skinned
The culture of silence they impose in pursuit of blood and sin
After the takeover, it was a matter of consolidation
Silence is golden, the poet embodied the opposition
In those early days of the coup, it was just another atrocity
Later, they would be more exotic and turn to dropping bodies
Pushing people out of helicopters over the Pacific ocean
In this case, the resort was to unnatural bacteria, botulism
The toxicologist's report would outline the matter, the dry minutia
The unlikelihood of natural occurrence of this strain of bacteria
Where the Bulgarians, contra Trotsky, used the poisoned tip of an umbrella
This toxic strain was plausible deniability for the likes of Kissinger
We only have interests, such are the wages of Pax Americana
To paraphrase: it was our son-of-bitch that poisoned Neruda
...
"I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves."
— The Kissinger Doctrine (New York Times June 27, 1970)
...
"If he had a toxic strain, how would it have gotten there?” said Charles Brenner, a forensic investigator from California who helped complete the report. “That is more a matter of imagination, and not science."
— Was Pablo Neruda Murdered? (New York Times, February 15, 2023)
Forensics, a playlist
A soundtrack for this note (spotify version)
- Poison by Bell Biv Devoe
- Murderer by Barrington Levy
- New York is Killing Me by Gil Scot Heron
- Cold Blooded by Rick James
- Evidence by Ark Blakey and Thelonious Monk
- Cold, Cold Heart by Dinah Washingon
- Evidence by Soullive
- Murderer by Buju Banton
- Evidence by Thelonious Monk
- It's Going Wrong by Chocolate Genius
Writing log: June 8, 2023
