Numbers Poem by Ananya Guha

Three deaths took place last night
One was a Hindu, the second a Christian and
the third a Muslim.
They were murdered.
An ancient word fraught
with just one meaning
Death.
Only three someone asked.
Numbers are not enough.
Someone else said.
Look at the floods they have killed fifty, sixty
but that, I astutely pointed out is not murder
Nor are the farmers' suicides.

Numbers are not enough.
He was implacatory.