Cremation in Kancheepuram

This is a poem which I wrote as a tribute to my dear Mom whom I lost 3 months ago. As is customary in India daughters never participate in the cremation process but I accompanied my brother and took part in this ritual to bid goodbye to the one who brought me into this world. The cremation took place in a town called Kancheepuram which is about 70 kilometres away from the city of Chennai (Madras).

The poem is as follows:


CREMATION AT KANCHEEPURAM.

An encumbered life, now extirpated by the somber reaper on his daily trudge
There was no foul play
Alas! The evident smell of Death was so strong
Her still presence now bedecked with flowers
A futile mortal ritual when the soul has already left
In a remote town with no real mode of transport
Like weary travelers they mulled amidst high pitched voices
Ridiculous suggestions, shocking to the ears
To guide her to her final resting place!
And then a friendly hand proffered aid.

A numb and grieved farewell
The brevity of Life offering no solace
They carried her in quietude; the sounds of a neighbourhood celebration so incongruent
The world was a mad vortex of emotional occurrences.
A little far away from the human cacophony
A four pole structure awaited their arrival
Layers of mud and blocks of wood became her resting place
She didn't implore about the discomfort
Consciousness had left her entire mien in the early hours of the dawn
Amidst the grim silence, some solitary sounds still prevailed.

The so called 'holy' priests performed the rites
For them she was but moving on
Her own could only weep and stare
At her compromising demeanour
The once fiery and authoritative figure
Now lay humble to the mighty Earth
So was this the reality of Life?
Some more layers of wood to cover her mortal being
Incessant tears blurred the image of her prostrate Mother
More catalyzing agents; the time had come to liberate her from this selfish world.

She was the reason they were there
Her presence so deeply embedded in them.
And then!
The sudden strike of a match, a tiny flame aggravated the daughter’s ears
The rituals began
Bringing home the finality.
Chants to appease the Gods were recited
Ensuring the parting soul eternal peace
Some more oil, some more flowers and the flames, their part did play
The Heavens opened their arms to welcome their child home.

The daughter's screams were stifled
Emotional dementia pervaded her entire being
The sacred rites were performed first by the son and then the daughter as well
Only the priests could be heard.
The flames were gentle
The first wisps of smoke began to rise
The return to Dust began
She watched her Mother go
The one who had breathed life into her
She now bid her a tearful goodbye.


This is a poem which I wrote as a tribute to my dear Mom whom I lost 3 months ago. As is customary in India daughters never participate in the cremation process but I accompanied my brother and took part in this ritual to bid goodbye to the one who brought me into this world. The cremation took place in a town called Kancheepuram which is about 70 kilometres away from the city of Chennai (Madras).

Canta Dadlaney