Egalitarian damage,
the reporter wrote,
to homes of those
of all religions,
puts paid to the notion
of a God who takes sides.
But shrines in every town—
Crucifix, Buddha, Shiva—
spared.
•
You, and I, same God.
All, same God,
a Sri Lankan says to a reporter.
•
White flags everywhere:
fluttering
from phone lines,
dancing
above fresh graves
in the local cemeteries.
A Buddhist symbol
of mourning.
Something I’ve known
only as surrender.