WITHOUT COUNTDOWN

                             (to APJ Abdul Kalam)    

                                                                                           By Bhaskar Phukan

                                   Death

                                   chose you

                                   at your favorite place

                                   while you were doing

                                    what you do best

                                   in your kingdom

                                   of knowledge.

                                     Faster

                                     than any missile;

                                    without countdown ;

                                   setting off

                                   across a nation

                                     a trajectory

                                     of grief and a love

                                    that needs

                                     no ignition.