Martyrdom Poem by RAJ VIKRAM

For a cause he parted ways
with his dear life that
he steadfastly held on
with attention, care and caution.

The cause that he felt was
his life's calling,
a cause that was made
his life's calling by destiny
and by a concept called nation.

He was referred to as a martyr
peans were sung for him
respect and adulation flowed
in all forms and manners.

Another martyr he became
for a cause that was noble
in the eyes of all and sundry
Death for once seemed welcome.

As the corpse as every
body devoid of life is,
got honoured with a cloth
that was referred to as flag.

And the guns sounded
the parting signal of adieu,
the mourners dispersed,
and memories floated in thin air.

The cause that made him
a martyr became the focus.
And patriots fired word canons
that annihilated the enemy.

But ultimately it became death
just a death, a disappearance
and then just a number
and then insignificance.

Martyrdom glorifies death
albeit transiently
and makes every other death
seem patently absurd

Let patriotism thrive
let spirit of oneupmanship
prevail so that there will
be more martyrs.

And then death will become
glorious and legitimate
and not an exercise in futility
it has always been dismissed as.