my soldier, you are gone
to paradise or beyond this universe’s realm
i have no way of knowing
the aching winds bring news from far
my soldier, you are gone

if there’s paradise on earth they said
it was there it was there it was there
who sent the minstrel of death
riding his bloodlust, detonating his carnage
my soldier, you are gone

your child’s tears will soak through to her heart
your mother’s eyes will never know peace
your father your son your country will weep
your instant will remain echoing forever in paradise
my soldier, you are gone

my soldier, you are gone
while flowers get ready to bloom
spring will be here soon
were you the harbinger, the first unfurling
of tightly shut petals looking up
seeking the sun
my soldier, you are gone

the flowers are opening up, looking beautiful on the little tree on my desk. the light outside filters through creating a misty effect. my thoughts have kept going back to the soldiers who were murdered in pulwama, kashmir, two days ago. young men on their way to work, blown to bits by a young man.