Life In Death Poem by Ramesh Joshi

Life in Death.

Night I slept late to awake
early morn to see reverie
where I saw the self tied
fast, ready to funeral pyre.
.
People gathered, were busy
piling up dry fuel logs in a
pyramid shape to place my
body on the terminal ground.

I saw few gossiping groups
sideliners in dead silence, know
not what they whispered ears
couldnt decipher, what meant.

I knew not I am in dead or living,
certain, should be dead, am here,
to last resting place am brought.
feeling life breathing in me, now.

My mind in speed ran to house,
where silence prevails, polls, pell_
_mell scattered in strewn garlands
with broken earthen pot bewailing.

my house? where my family seen?
In bath, were they busy sprinkling
water to heads, self purificatoryrite,
neighbours waiting, tea fulling kettles.

I heard them say in consolation to the
embittered kin, ' all ends, with departure
now to snap all ties, only fading picture
fast vanish in hours, months and years.'

Now where am I? where to go? with
whom to traverse with logs or men
who have now turned wet fuel to burn
me, ready for next pyre, on shoulder.

Now I know it not reverie, a reality,
senses refuse, the mind reluctant
reversing reality in incredible reverie.
Death, as true as Life in life we die.