The Petrov Poems: A charm to keep him safe (Lesley Lebkowicz)

 
He won’t leave until April the third,
the day his successor is due.
He’ll tie up all the loose ends
and hand over the codes
the accounts
his notes.
He’ll do everything right –
till the end –
just like anyone leaving his job.
He’ll be as good as a robot
and maybe Moscow will think
he’s an ordinary agent
and defection
is part of his job.