POETRY OF LOSS

By

Charles Mwewa

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Words of the Departed

Words of the departed loved ones
Will not be forgotten.
Even though they have long left us,
Their words still ring new life.

Like a parrot, we rewind them
And repeat them oftenly.
For they bring sweet memories
Of times and joys we shared.

That sad and gloomy day of loss
When death’s messenger knocks,
With these remembrances of love,
We drown them and move on.

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Do not Cry

I heard you when you cried
And your face said it all:
“Mommy I miss you,” you said
And your voice fainted.

And these words, unedited
Followed, unscripted:

“I feel rejected in this world
Where you have left me.
Mommy, you left me alone.
You were there for me always.
There is no-one by my side.
I miss your kindness
Rest in peace, dear mom.”

I was there when you cried
And offered my hank
Then you dried.

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Dirge of My People

The dirge my people cry,
Oh, these songs they sing
When loved ones are gone
Are full of sorrows
When they are sung.

When they lament silently,
“Oh you people without mercy,
You have grabbed Chandwe
For no reason at all.”

These bring grief and regret
Which touch the soul.

My people dance as they mourn
And sing rhythms of grief.
Their limbs barely move
When sorrow, melody and pain
Are mixed in the pot of loss.

The dirges my people cry;
To placate their dead they try!

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Friends Gone

Our few days are told as a tale
A remorse fact I now must tell.
Once you hear that pitiless bell;
It has destiny turning pale.

I do recall a few loved friends
Who lamely met their story ends
After that human’s nasty fiend,
Their life he denied to extend.

Surely every good turns to waste
When winds bluster by way of west;
Again people have failed their test
For none comes to detail past taste.

While our deceased leave a picture,
And a voice of their departure,
Sorrow is not a good teacher,
Nor sorry a better preacher.

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The Grip

Dark Shadow
It comes to all like a shadow
And beckons us to enter the door
To take us through eternal meadow
To places prepared for all.

Endless Journey
Tough no one may clearly say
How far on this journey to stay
By the flurries of a clear day
We know don’t return our way.

Abode
The spirits of those who depart
For so nature that knows in part
Does tell us they are set apart
For places known by the expert.

Trespass
Though your power in trespass be
One has triumphed over thee
To make safe passage for you and me
When our eyes are closed we see.

Hope
They go each to their very end
In doubt we may know or pretend
But know we in peace they spend
Their rest,
And in hope their faults mend.