The Last Wish

The biggest unraveling of a cosmic truth

His end was near

His vision was clear

 

The man said, ‘Please don’t burn my body,’

To everyone’s shock and dismay,

He continued, ‘bury it in our backyard.'

 

‘But, baby that is against our tradition,’ mother said

‘I know it is, which is why my special request

Else I would have let things be.'

 

‘But, baby my parents will never agree to it,’ the wife said

‘They never agreed to our courtship or our marriage.'

Life has always been and always will be flowing smoothly,’ he said

 

‘You don’t have a single child to carry your name forward,’ his brother said

‘Nothing was mine the day I opened my eyes,

I intend to leave no footprints, the day I close it too,’ he said

 

The family had to oblige to his final request

He was their most educated, traveled& enlightened

He deserves his wish fulfilled before he goes to rest

 

On the day his eyes finally closed,

His family gathered around with tears

His eyes seem to be in peace, no more fears

Under a white sheet, he lay dozed

 

‘How can you not let his body burn?

His soul was about to reach heaven, and you let it rot in the ground?

In-laws and neighbours started to hound

Do you think what you’re doing is right?’

Arguments escalated, lucky that nothing turned to a fight

 

Weeks turned to months

The family comes to peace, with its member at rest

All those objects the man claimed to be his,

Was seen orphaned with his other belongings

 

It was those objects that brought him and his memories

Back to their minds again, he must be beyond the stars and seas

His brother imagined,

He has a place up there now, he will not come back, but will he? 

 

For his mother, however, the longing turned to paranoia

In her dreams, He came, and he questioned

‘I am rotting in hell, decomposed and worm-infested

Save me, burn me; let the smoke of my remainders

Rise to heaven and be forsaken.'

 

Mother woke up middle of the night

And decided that she is going to fight

Her son will not rot in the ground anymore

He will be exhumed and then cremated as per norm

 

The next full moon night, the family gathered in the backyard,

Brothers called two friends, and the exhumation started

A few bits of grass, weed, and a small sapling uprooted

 

One by one, the family started to find the bones,

There was little flesh left beneath the stones

They gathered whatever remains they could find

Whatever of the bones and tissue left behind?

Among the bones they found a note, sealed

Inside a plastic cover, the letter revealed

 

"You are reading this letter because I already knew

That I would be excavated because norms die slowly

I want you all to know, that this was the way I wanted to go

I am raised by the food grown in this backyard

Raised by the same eternal consciousness of earth

Who grew the food for me since birth,

Turning the dirt and t**d, to carrots and mustard

 

 

Throughout my life, my journeys I realized

That the only way to achieve immortality

Is to return to the earth and melt into its eternity

 

I am still here, there and everywhere       

I was there in the plants and shrubs you cut to get here

I was there in every inch of mud you dug out

And I will be there in every plant and tree that sprouts

 

Had I been burned, then I would have been a vapour

I will still come down as rain before the first monsoon supper

I might be a part of every breath you take because I am now everywhere

 

So even you will join me in this eternity,

This is neither heaven nor hell in its actuality

 We will just keep changing form; it is just so much fun,

 We will all be together, as matter, we are one"

Author's Note

One of the longest poems I've written... The thought is related to the idea of ever dissolving property of nature, how one form of matter changes to another in a cycle.

Inspired from a speech on the consciousness of nature by Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan.
Renowned scientist and former director of IISH (Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage)
(Look him up on YouTube)

Please share your thoughts below.

Reviews

[D Connolly]

This idea is so beautiful. The story was getting gruesome, but he already knew what his family would do after he was gone (because he loved them so well in life, he knew before they did). I love how he understands our cyclic nature as spiritual beings; whether it is from the ground or the sky, "we will all be together, as matter, we are one"

[Ashwin Shanker]

That was the message that I intended through this write. glad to know that you liked it

[KWP]

Your opening stanza put me right there at the ghats of Benaras, I can still smell death al around ... you are right I like this poem very much, although I think it would be better as a short story (if you don't mind me saying) then when they discover the note that could be as it is - pure poetry.

I love the challenge the family faces - going against the biggest tradition of all - yeah wow - and having him in their own backyard must drive them all a little bit crazy me thinks.

This is fresh and original and made me smile.

One thing I have noticed about your writing is you don't mention actual things or places from India - off all the Indian writing I have read these are the things that bring everything to life for me - for example when you mention 'It was those objects" what objects ? Anything typically Indian?

This reminds me of a ted talk - I need to find it for you

Here it is - please have a listen - I think you will resonate

https://www.ted.com/talks/katrina_spade_when_i_die_recompose_me

in return I am giving you one of my India poems to read - love your thoughts my friend ...

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/KWPisME/1469134/

[pia]

this was mind blowing stuff
wonderfully written
i loved the dept in it.

[Ashwin Shanker]

I consider this my best work till date, glad to know that you liked it. There are other poems similiar to this if you wish to explore

[pia]

this was by far amazing stuff tbh
dont mind if i do :)

[Ashwin Shanker]

tbh?................

[pia]

to be honest

[Ashwin Shanker]

Okay /......

[Jyoti Yadav]

So amazing Poem ..!!! It really touched my soul. So meaningful it is.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you for the review Jyoti, Honoured to know that you liked it

[BBP]

Beautiful take on someone's dying wish. I enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you BBP for the review.

[Tabby Mac]

This piece touched my heart. It speaks volumes. My grandfather passed a few years ago, I watched him tend his farm for years. When he died his sons got the loot as per tradition. I longed for one more walk around the house and property, but alas even that was not an option.
For me his life was the inheritance the example left behind was my gift. He was frugal, saved, was responsible, and gave when we were in need. But as I grew older all the things around him were glued together with glue and sat on the shelves with hidden cracks. All that was left was worth nothing to him or really to anyone. I'm not sure his sons knew or saw the cracks they saw inheritance.
Although a different story entirely I found similarities in the meaning of life. My grandfather took care of everything didn't throw it out if it got broken just fixed and put it back in it's place.
And in the end he told me I've lived my life. He could not take any of it with him.
This piece speaks of traditions broken and a bigger message, my experience speaks the same but with traditions followed.
Once dirt back to dirt. A lesson about what is important I see. Cherish the people do the best we can, we will all be in the same place in the end!
Beautiful!! I really enjoyed this!
Tabby

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you Tabby for sharing your story with me, and your perspective to what I was trying to convey. It certainly adds beauty to the overall page when readers add their points of view and experiences, making the work to rise beyond the imagination of one person.

Appreciated.

[WillaDanvers]

The ending was great - not what I was expecting. His reasons were true, and indeed they made me think a great lot about how I would go. Great writing!

[Ashwin Shanker]

I am happy that you thought a bit on this, as it doesnt really matter, you will degrade into one form or the other and eventually melt into existence.

[Neal S]

This was an interesting read. Not only a breaking from normality within this family but keeping with the reincarnation of life. When we pass we never really pass. We're just here or there in some other form. Nice work I really like this one as well.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Thank you Neal for the review. More than the story, it is the message of this poem that I want to emphasize upon.

[T. Edana Talbott]

Length does not matter when the content is as superb as this. I found myself enthralled ( I often wonder about death and the afterlife, myself)

[Ashwin Shanker]

I am glad that you loved the poem Edana.
Yes, a lot of my friends have been able to resonate on the thought with which I have written this poem.
Thanks for the review :)

[1VJ]

I'm not sure about how much fun being dead will be, but I really enjoyed the story within your poetry. No one can be sure what happens once the body comes to pass, but energy never ceases to exist, be it vapors or part of the landscape. Well spoken.

[Ashwin Shanker]

Well, the poem was not exactly about being dead as it is about the shift of matter that takes place among different life forms. energy simply simply keeps passing on, it is important to understand that we are a part of that energy too.

[1VJ]

That's what I was saying, energy never ceases, lots of food for thought here.

[Ashwin Shanker]

haha........ yes...