a two part ode to death
- annakilli

I. death by (cease)fire

my words lie
ill formed, mis
shapen
like a body
lying
on the edge of life;
bowing in silent
obedience
to the murderous
truth of the assassin's
certain
fire, unceasing
in our ceasefire days.

II. death by water, death by identity

2005,
the year of the tiger;
bearing down on waves of water
washing ashore
bodies unidentified.
unidentified men,
waving guns in a delirious salute,
dance the masque of death around
a ring of bodies,
riddled with
bullets
of identity:
tamil, traitor

annakilli (translated from tamil)

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