Death?

Summary

The death of a loved one triggers a cycle of grieving and introspection, ultimately leading to the rebirth of the self and the continuation of life.

Abstract

The loss of a loved one sparks a process of profound self-reflection in the individual, forcing them to confront the ugly side of humanity and their shattered illusions. However, this period of bereavement also acts as a catalyst for a renewed appreciation of life and a re-commitment to living fully, as evidenced in the narrator's struggle to find meaning in the wake of loss and her ultimate decision to live.

Opinions

Death can bring about the crumbling of one's beliefs and illusions.
The loss of a loved one can reveal the cruel and apathetic nature of humanity.
The grieving process can lead to a renewed appreciation for life and a re-commitment to living fully.
The loss of a loved one can serve as a catalyst for the rebirth of the self.
Life goes on, even in the face of loss and grief.

When the family oak falls, the nest burns. Yet life goes on…

Pencil Colour and Marker Drawing by Author, ‘’Death?”, ©Aparna Singh

At his pyre, as she watched him merge with the ashes of strangers, she stood witness to the grotesque, naked dance of humanity. The ego, the avarice, the duplicity. The cruelty we ‘humans’ are capable of. All played out with apathetic panache. The Death of illusions! Curtain call for charades. Mutely she watched her puny terracotta Gods, topple and tumble, from their towering pedestals, in quick succession. Chinks in their facades? Or in their hearts? Victims of their own impotence, self-lust, or that of her blind adulation? Was this the sorry consequence then, of her compulsion to make heroes of men!

Was she to grieve his demise, or weep at this gory, merciless slaughter of the last remnants of her innocence? Parched out of tears, her soul scorched, her heart gouged, her faith debauched. Left abandoned in the barren desert. To succumb? Grainy waves enshrouded her. Her head went under. Her eyelids drooped. She had seen enough. She wanted to sleep…

“Breathe!”, the little voice whispered. “Life is a gift. Breathe to live, you must!” Jolted back, she strained to listen. Befuddled brain stirred snuffed desire. Battered heart urged, “I am not ready to expire”. She grabbed at fistfuls of sand, gasped for a lungful of compassion. As she slowly ossified to stone, her jaded eyes conjured a glimmer. Lighthouse, oasis, trap, mirage? A bit of each perhaps? Her weary mind wasn’t sure. How did it matter? There wasn’t anything left to lose anymore! She would take her chance. Inch by inch, she dragged her corpse, towards the apparition of hope…

She Lived. It wasn’t as yet, her time to go.

— Aparna

Untimely death is like the lava-stream from a volcanic eruption. It not only kills the one who dies, but destroys everything and everyone in its path. Yet, the same destructive flow, creates fertile grounds, for the birth of new consciousness. And life goes on…

©Aparna Singh 2022. All Rights Reserved. #DreamscapesByAparna #TenacityOfLife #Death #LossOfLovedOnes #Grief #CycleOfLife #LifeGoesOn #DeathAndLife #DeathOfAParent #LosingAParent #LossOfAParent #LifeAfterLoss #Bereavement #StagesOfGrief #Elegy #PoemsForGriefAndLoss #DeathPoetry #PoemsAboutDeath

TENACITY OF LIFE

Death?

When the family oak falls, the nest burns. Yet life goes on…