TO A LESSER DEGREE

I was qualified in middle eastern history,
which was a waste at the chemist it seemed to me,
however, I saw an advert to become a spy,
instead of media, thought that I would give it a try.

I had a light brown colour, useful for blending scenery,
knowledge of languages should make me fit in perfectly;

They asked me tricky-dicky questions - was I C of E,
I said that I was whatever they wanted me to be.

Soon, I was monitoring 'traffic,' to and fro from Syria,
Yemen, Afghanistan, Iraq, Tunisia, Luton and Algeria;
forget the romance - no time to look at my ornaments,
​even missing tv - 'Holby City' and 'Eastenders' instalments.

​​​​​One day I woke up and thought that I was dead,
moments later, I felt a cold steel in the back of my head.