We close her eyes we kiss her forehead then darkness for eternity. An ashen moon drips blood on thirteen white carnations
and
four crippled swallows
pull her chariot
up to a wounded sky.
she rises to the heavens
she is one with the angels
she is one with the stars
Chants and prayers
"earth to earth" “ashes to ashes” "dust to dust"
olive leaves
burning in the censer.
Her grave unsated, gaping, it commands its dues— a body a scattering of earth a glass of oil a slice of bread then we walk away and she is all alone she rises to the heavens she is one with the angels she is one with the stars and
fifteen tear-soaked carnations mourn the fateful day.
Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses
A few words about the poem…
Farewell's Elegy: A Reflection on Transcending Mortality | Cyprus Poems
In the death and grief poem “Requiem” a sombre aura envelops the scene as it captures the poignant act of bidding farewell to the teenage girl. The verses unfold with a measured restraint, echoing the solemnity of the moment as the departed is laid to rest. Through the gentle strokes of language, the poem paints a picture that transcends individual experience, inviting readers to contemplate the universal rituals of loss and remembrance.
Set within the series "Thirteen Silk Verses," from the collection “Cyprus Poems,” it portrays the act of farewell as it guides the reader through the Greek Orthodox burial rituals that accompany the departure of a loved one. The act of closing the departed's eyes and pressing a tender kiss to their forehead is described with an intimate tenderness that evokes empathy, transcending cultural and personal boundaries.
As the poem unfolds, the imagery shifts to capture the symbolism of transition and transcendence. An "ashen moon" lends an eerie hue to the scene, conjuring a sense of otherworldliness. Blood dripping onto "thirteen white carnations" alludes to the purity of the girl, the fragility of life, and the inevitability of mortality. "Four crippled swallows" pull the chariot, evoking an image of devastation and an ethereal carriage, blurring the earthly and celestial realms.
The poet's use of repetition, emphasizing the departed's unity with angels and stars, imbues the poem with a sense of spiritual interconnectedness. The rhythm of chants and prayers, invoking the cycle of life and death, resonates across cultures, further emphasizing the universality of the experience. Olive leaves burning in a censer evoke a sensory dimension, heightening the reader's engagement with the ritual.
The closing lines bring forth the stark reality of the grave's demands. The imagery of an "unsated, gaping" grave conveys the unyielding nature of mortality. The prescribed offerings of "a body, a scattering of earth, a glass of oil, a slice of bread" symbolize the act of relinquishing one's physical presence, rendering an emotional farewell even more palpable.
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