In the dominion of madness,

Without hope as a harness,

Lurks a game of roulette;

Russian to be exact, where

The cylinder of a revolver

Traps a bullet carved, to

Spell 'Character Assassination'

In lieu of 'Resignation'.

 

But this is Chekhov's gun,

And all you need to do

Is keep it off the stage,

So there's no trigger to

Be pulled by the third act

For the sake of that

Gratifying dramatic arc.