It was your
integrity

at the time of ubiquitous pain
of separation, you want to move the home
away from home

coming
to terms with the trauma
your shadow was not following you

playing dead
nuzzling the earth, racing to fill
the void, entering the truthlessness

this world
of violence, of mayhem, of self-betrayal,
the flags are not able to cover the nudity

Satish Verma