Death Poem by Tribhawan Kaul

"Death"
Our seers say
"is evident
The ultimate destination of life
No body, no face
Life is transient
Oh dear, why fear
Embrace it with grace"

What a claim?
treat it with disdain
death is human
in flesh and blood
moving around, around us
why destiny to blame?

Behold
skeltoned beggar
starving farmers
terminally ill patients
sex-workers
locked out labourers
young widow of a martyr
victim of rape
refugee in own country
mentally and physically caged
wronged by the system
in every way and shape
death personified at its best
north, south, east or west
living dead
in them death manifest.

Death
inherent and visible in
overboard authority
merciless terrorists
brutal nexalites
mindless arsonist
misguided egoist
deadly adulterist
drunken rich brat motorist.

Death is lurking in forms
having flesh, blood, body and face
without heart and soul
no charm, no grace
nothing to embrace
but to wither and fade
as destined and ordained
in a natural way.

That is
CHEATING DEATH
attaining ‘ mokhsha'*
our ultimate goal
putting to the rest
our own soul.
---o----*liberation of soul
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copyright Tribhawan Kaul
kaultribhawan@gmail.com