Monday 8 June 2020


After Everything Is Over

by Padmini Krishnan


He sneaked over to the enemy’s camp
on a stealthy, misty night.
He was caught and dismembered
as he cried out his country’s name.
He was sent back, along
with his burnt flag.
His countrymen assuaged their burning hearts
by flushing the enemy’s holy book.
Their countries combated till all their weapons
were exhausted, then they went nuclear,
turning more barbaric than barbarians,
scaring animals with their blood-thirsty eyes,
till they forgot to differentiate
between their men and their enemies.

Now everything is over and a few of them
roam amongst humans,
their cruelties stashed in the corner
of their hearts,
until providence
decides to bring their atrocities to the surface.

Had we been of the same race,
religion and nationality, we still
would have found a reason to hate,
raked up imaginary differences
and recruited soldiers to guard the
ego and insecurities of our hearts.


* * * * *

Padmini Krishnan writes haiku, haibun, free verse, children's stories and short stories. Her works have appeared in Proletaria, Breadcrumbs, Terror House Magazine, Plum Tree Tavern and Balloon Literary Journal among others. Her forthcoming poetry will appear in Stonecrop Review.



1 comment:

  1. "Had we been of the same race,
    religion and nationality, we still
    would have found a reason to hate,
    raked up imaginary differences
    and recruited soldiers to guard the
    ego and insecurities of our hearts."

    ReplyDelete