Death Is Not Always A Sad Event

By: aromaproductions on 1:21 PM

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Two days after I visited Melide in Tessin, Switzerland, I had to travel to my home, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. My father, who was 94,  was ill. At that age, his illness spoke of urgency, and my dad, who is the last of his siblings, had already spoken of his journey on earth coming to an end. We, his children, were impressed by his strenght, his resilience, his ability to cope and recovery from illness brought on by longevity. He just bounced back from anything old age had thrown his way. He showed us, by example, how to cope with such adversity. His death was no surprise as we had been forewarned by him.  Death came as he was surrounded by all of his children, a grandson, and church friends.  It was as though he had made an appointment with us to be there on this specific day and time so he could take his leave. The nurse confirmed our suspicions when she said that "he was travelling," and soon he took his last breath.  The final exit from this world was sad and we were there to cry on each other's shoulder and give each other strength to acknowlege that he was no longer with us.

The funeral brought family together.  We had come from Switzerland, California, New york, Florida, the island of Antigua. Family and friends, we had not seen in thirty or forty years came to bid farewell to dad. Seeing family and friends brought smiles on our faces as we hugged and embraced each other on this mournful occasion.

Scannen0003

Reunion
(for Gilbert Elliot Romeo 12.09 -17.04.2009)

Death brought us here.
Papa's travelling home
set off the talking drum.
It's voice reaching ears
near and far.

We come together in
this place of snactity,
wear solemn faces,
lower our voices as not
to offend God and Papa
who rest temporarily in
his heavenly father's abode.

At the entrance
we carry out death rituals,
hand out gray armbands
and pin purple ribbons
on those come to say
their last goodbye.

Faces, we have for long not seen,
appear, their hand outstretched.
They plant a kiss, we hug, embrace
loved ones and friends.
A chorus of joy banishes sorrow.

We feel papa's memories in
their words that tell kind tales,
hear his voice of hope speaking to our hearts.
We sing him home, send him off
to a better place at this gathering
in his honor.

(c) Althea Romeo-Mark 30.04.2009