(To Jamal Khashoggi and all journalists who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty)

He screamed…

Glass shattering, heart-piercing scream

He screamed in excruciating pain…

Although he walked in there

To fulfill a new dream!

Unmaterialized that would remain.

A dream to start fresh, new life

With his would-be wife

Who waited outside for him

Holding in her heart

The same shared dream

Morning hours rolled past noon

He was supposed to be out quite soon

But that never happened

He never returned in her arms

Rather she drowned in her doubts

When darkness wrapped her world

Inside and out…

They took away his life

With vicious rage

They silenced him for good

They put the voice of descent in cage

They slaughtered the pen of truth.

Rest in peace

Fearless warrior

This world couldn’t bear your flame,

We have moved on

With our lives and career

Comfortably hiding

Our collective guilt and shame.

Ershad Khan has a background in Journalism and Media Studies. He occasionally writes poems on contemporary issues.