Lazarus's Onward Journey Poem by Ibohal Kshetrimayum

My friend
Lazarus of Bollongre died
In an accident.

He shook it more than twice
When he peed on the fence of Pundit Nehru Park,
And it cost him his life when a truck
Rammed him from behind.

All of us,
His bereaved friends, knew
He wasn't Lazarus of Bethany, and
None of us a carpenter either.

But we shouted at the morgue's door,
'Lazarus, come forth', beatified by barrels
Of bitchi we drank in mourning.

At his funeral
Two days later, we buried him
With pomp and gaiety.

His coffin rested on our shoulders
On way to the cemetery, and we carry
The fond bruises till this day.

His soul
Rested for a while at Balpakram,
And he washed his feet in the black pool.

We hung chunks of smoked-meat around the ancient rock,
Food for his onward journey, and we shouted again,
'Lazarus, go forth'. And he left for his eternal home, and
We raised our glasses one more time for the road.

Note:
Bollongre- a village in the Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Bitchi - local rice beer of the Garos.
Balpakram: an ancient sacred place of the Garos, believed to be a temporary resting place for souls before departing to the other world. It is also believed the departing souls wash their sins in a pond there, thereby making the pond's water black.