Beyond Mercy – A Poem by Kailash Nath Khandelwal

Death, an unyielding presence
A force that gathers, without fanfare or drumbeat
It spares no one, takes all in its path
Leaving behind only the echoes of what once was.

We plead for mercy, for a reprieve
A stay of execution, a temporary reprieve from the darkness
But what is mercy, when life’s fragile thread is severed?
Is it a gentle easing of the passage, or merely a myth we cling to?

Perhaps mercy is not what we seek
Perhaps it’s acceptance we’re afraid to face
The certainty of our own mortality
The unknown that lies beyond the veil of life.

We fear the unknown, the unknowable
The great mystery that shrouds our final breath
And yet, we yearn for meaning, for significance
For our lives to be more than just a fleeting moment.