Death is similar
Almost eerily so
On this side of the border
And the other
May be the manufacturer changes
Of the missiles and fire 
Or the seller
Sometimes both may be one and the same
On either side
Though the ones who use them change
In different spheres that are there
Geographical political religious
And a multitude of others
Where reasons are forged, given shape and sharpness
In the fires of senseless ambition 
That justifies killing others

The ones who die, keep changing
Though death doesn’t change its character 
Nor its finality
It may arrive in the hushed silence of nights
Or on oblivious days that demand attention 
To chores dull and a life lacklustre 
Though the dead may not agree 
If given a chance to speak 
Dull is beautiful
Lacklustre is scintillating
And routines excite passions 
They might say
Now that they are dead

Death arrives nowadays
Not like before
Not in the stillness of unguarded moments 
There’s a blaring banality to it
And an underlined emphasis 
On drama, theatrics and noise
That’s sadly ephemeral 
To those on either side
And those not on any side

Killers change
The ones who are killed change 
Killing fields keep changing too 
Neither having any choice
Nor any time for reflection
On why they have to kill 
Or why they have to die
And many other reasons 
Not to

Those who speak of attack and revenge
Keep changing
So do the ones who shed tears 
And the ones working for peace 
But what never changes
Is the murderous ambition
And relentless perseverance 
Of a crop of dwarf leaders
That’s flourishing