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Central Bylines
Home Lifestyle Poetry

The View from the Top

OK, there never was a plan but here’s the thing – I am the man

Paul Francis by Paul Francis
18-03-2026 10:40
in Poetry
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
image by Anil Baki Durmus. Free to use under Unsplash License

image by Anil Baki Durmus. Free to use under Unsplash License

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The press keep asking “What’s the plan?”
So here's the lowdown on Iran.
It seems like only yesterday
I said that help was on its way.
These guys went charging down the street
and it’s too bad that they got beat.
But hey, the man in charge was bad.
We took him out. We should be glad.

“Iran” says Bibi, “is a threat.
Also, they’re at their weakest yet.
You in or out? Make up your mind.
You don’t want to be left behind.”
This isn’t something we would do
just because Bibi told us to.
In fact, you need to understand
maybe it’s me forced Bibi’s hand.

No other president, it’s true,
has dared to do the stuff I do.
I’m proud to kill them. Nothing’s changed.
It’s clear these scumbags are deranged.
Short-term excursion - treat them rough.
I’ll tell you when we’ve won enough.
We’re ready to negotiate.
That is, we were. Now it’s too late.

Just hear that Epic Fury song –
death and destruction all day long.
Precision bombing’s really cool
so someone else took out that school.
OK, there never was a plan
but here’s the thing – I am the man.

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Paul Francis

Paul Francis

Paul Francis taught in comprehensive schools for thirty years, and lives in Much Wenlock, Shropshire. He is currently active as a writer and performer on the West Midlands poetry scene. He has a paper copy of The Guardian delivered every day, and couldn’t write poems without it. In 2024 he won the Enfield poetry competition, and had a poem published in the VER anthology. In 2025 he’s had a poem commended in the VERVE competition.

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