Candles flicker, the cantors chant
and the solemn sermon of the priest
fills the church with blackness.
Longing for a scrap of comfort,
I gaze at the austere Archangel
standing sentry at the sacred gate.
Fear and foreboding fill me.
He has discarded his golden mail
and clad in black, he grips
a basket and a rusty scythe.
His face is nothing but a skull
—menacing, and savage.
She rises silently, pale, and peaceful.
Under the stern gaze of the saints
she shrouds herself in candlelight
and in the mists of olive leaves
burning in the scented censer.
I push, jostle and hurry to be by her side.
"The boy is unhinged," many whisper.
With hands entwined, we step out
into the searing blaze of the noonday sun.
Despondent cicadas hush their song
and the grey old windmill stretches out
its scrawny arms up to the Lord Jehovah.
With a rusty voice, it demands
an answer but the Lord is silent.
Anguished, it stares at the spire
in search of a shred of solace—
fifteen weeping doves
are painting the belfry black.
Perched on the wall by the iron gate,
we gaze at the yellow woodland
where thirteen mimosas bloomed in May.
“We were so happy then," she whispers
and I realize I will live a willing prisoner among
those blossoming mimosas for the rest of my days.
Byzantine incantations and haunting chants
echo in the sterile marble garden.
The pungent scent of rosemary grows stronger
and her lips have turned to an icy shade of blue.
Mourners wail, and four sombre pallbearers
lower her white coffin into an open grave.
Part of the cycle of poems thirteen silk verses
A few words about the poem…
Navigating the Emotions of Loss and Grief: A Journey Through the Cyprus Poems
Within the realm of poetry, emotions and experiences are distilled into words that resonate deep within the human soul. Poets have an uncanny ability to capture the essence of life's most profound moments and emotions, transcending the boundaries of time and space. Such is the power of poetry that it can encapsulate the complexities of human existence, offering readers a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of thoughts, feelings, and experiences that make us who we are.
“The Epitaph,” a poem in the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" within the collection “Cyprus Poems,” delves into the realms of death, grief, and the human condition, inviting readers to embark on a journey of introspection and contemplation. Each poem within this collection is a brushstroke on the canvas of existence, painting vivid images and weaving intricate narratives that speak to the heart.
As one navigates through this series, there is a gradual unveiling of the threads that bind human existence to the tapestry of life and death. The poems transcend mere words and become vessels for emotions that resonate on a deeply personal level. Themes of loss, sorrow, acceptance, and remembrance are woven into verses that capture moments of profound transformation and vulnerability. These poems act as windows into the human experience, offering a mirror to our own emotions and thoughts.
"The Epitaph," the final poem in the series, serves as a culmination of this exploration. Set against the backdrop of a funeral, it encapsulates the raw emotions experienced by a young boy who has lost his beloved. Through his eyes, the reader is led through a series of hallucinations, reflections, and moments of acceptance. The poem takes us on a journey from the confines of grief to the expanse of memory, as the boy grapples with his feelings in the presence of sombre rituals and the landscape of the cemetery.
The poems in the series “Thirteen Silk Verses” also reference the names of other tragic heroines like Ophelia, Eurydice, and Giulietta, drawing parallels between their stories and the boy's experience. This intertextual approach enriches the narrative by tapping into the collective consciousness of literary history, allowing the reader to draw connections across time and cultural contexts.
As with the rest of the series, the poet's style is characterized by descriptive language that paints vivid images, providing readers with a window into the emotional world of the characters. The use of light poetic language creates an atmosphere that is both immersive and contemplative and guides the reader through the narrative without imposing judgments or interpretations.
In conclusion, the series "Thirteen Silk Verses" is an exploration of the human experience through the lens of death and grief. The poems within this collection transcend the limitations of language, inviting readers to engage with their own emotions and thoughts. "The Epitaph," as the final chapter of this journey, encapsulates the essence of this series—sorrow, acceptance, and the enduring power of memory. It beckons us to reflect on the intricate threads that weave our lives, reminding us that poetry has the unique ability to capture moments of life's most profound emotions and experiences.
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