Thursday 20 May 2021

A Death & A Funeral : A Poem

dear smartphone

thank you

for being there

 

for giving us

that last glimpse

of the dying one

shot by docs

weary ward docs

or resigned nurses

last moments

"Take me home, son!"

"Yes, ma!" 

he lied, she knew

 

crucial goodbyes

helpless, ruthless

necessary goodbyes

 

phone, you let us

grieve

all night, all day

Apart from each other

but together 

over your lines


shock, numb

at first. 

Then, resignation

crying, weeping

remembering

the Lost one

 

When did you see her last?

When did you meet her last?

Whose wedding? 

Which funeral?

Oh, she was so well, then!

Just three days ago, 

she was fine!

The Lost one.

 

phone, you allowed us

to grieve together

while far Apart

 

and now, phone

you let us

be part of what we couldn't

 

The Last rites

A funeral

Two attendees

One, the Son 

conducts rituals

a pseudo ceremony

the other, a relative

records the proceedings

broadcasts on WhatsApp

 

phone, you let the Father

watch his son

bid goodbye

to the mom 

wife, grand-mom

 

phone, you let the Daughter

scream in anguish

from abroad

she got to watch

before and after


phone, thanks 

for your zoom feature

such clarity too!

we got to watch

large labels

stuck on her body

Admitted on:

Death on:

scribbled dates and times

block letters

another record, a number



and of course, her face

if only a blurry face

through the tiny glass

of a mortuary van


an attender glances

at his watch

"Hurry, I've got more

to shift

to cremate, 

so many more

in the queue."


Last rituals 

a coconut, broken in halves

a lamp wick, flame trembles

some camphor lit

on a small rock -

a makeshift aarti

a flower or two

a murmured teary prayer

ceremony conducted

to the door

of a death van

closed, of course.

no hugs, no kisses

no touching, oh no.

from far, six feet at least.


customs followed

not customarily, of course.


we sniff, muffle sobs

wipe tears

whisper

over weak networks

"Stay strong"

that done & dusted mantra

Stay Strong

no choice

 

phone, you let us watch

and grieve

safe at home

cocooned 

in surreal shells of woe

 

stay-home goodbyes

stay-home funerals

what next, phone?

still shuddering,

anything more?

 

you let us 

grieve together

while far apart

 

Thank you, smartphone.

 

4 comments:

  1. Such hear wrenching poem just showcasing the bare truth of what we see before us today . You have beautifully captured all the emotions so well. Bravo !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, it was cathartic for me to put this down.

      Delete
  2. Heavy one indeed ! Too heavy rather, all of that would surely have swamped and sunk us too deep, but for the 'distant smartphone' in our own hands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, much as we regret the technology that has engulfed our lives, they are blessings in disguise too.

      Delete