What After The Death?

 

Another death 

Another poignant family 

What dreams may have died?

The moment after the last breath 

What will happen to life?

Where will it go?

Afterlife

It sounds like a hope

Is there really another life to live?

From the moment of leaving the body

The soul may wander around 

Will it meet other souls?

I've seen the last breath of my dad 

I've seen him in my dreams and nightmares 

I wonder where he is right now in this universe!

There are those who proclaim that it's their second life 

They tell about the incidents from their old life

Some even find their old families!

Is there hell and heaven?

 It sounds like two magical worlds

Do we get to live another long life there?  

What is the purpose of this life, if it is meant only to be short?

Has God lined up other tasks for us after the death?

Why does he leave our dreams unfinished?

I wonder if I will get another life

As a microbe, plant, animal, human or even an alien!

It is a mystery similar to how this world popped up from nowhere!

This is based on remnants from a discussion I had with my ex-girlfriend about death, afterlife, soul etc during a holy month. Image is taken from Unsplash. Thanks :)  My Final Day On Earth is the previous poem and  Another Life? is the next poem in this series. 

My Final Day On Earth

 

One final day on this earth is special 

I'll visit a church or temple to pray 

Maybe a bribe to get a ticket to heaven

It's a relief for my broken and lonely heart 

No more battles to fight to survive another day 

No more worries to live through the pain 

I'll try to see the sunrise that I rarely see

I'll tell the sun to be gentle on me that day

I'll walk through the park for one last walk

I'll let the shower be my last rainfall 

And the crushed ice be my last snow 

I'll throw stones in a nearby stream 

I'll write poems from my sweet memories

I'll write an obituary for myself and send 

It to a digital newspaper for publishing 

I don't have many people to meet or call

I'll rather leave short goodbye messages 

With the hope of meeting again somewhere 

I'll hail a taxi and travel around for a while

To see the places I love, near where I live 

To bid adieu to the long walks I used to have

I'll spend some time in my vegetable garden

I'll water my plants and treat them with manure

I'll request someone to look after my garden 

I'll throw away the medicines that control me

And try to sleep on my own for seeing dreams

I'll try to wake up to the nightmares of my past

If there is a beach nearby, I will go there 

Walk on the sands and play with the waves

I hope I would last until the glorious sunset

If not, I will go to a hill for a final trek 

To breathe the misty air from the trees 

And embrace the clouds on the grass

I would cook myself a spicy last dinner 

With a dessert, I loved from my childhood

And one last toast to myself with a wine 

I hope I will see my loved ones waiting for me

Like my grandfather saw his, in the death bed 

I'll go with them without any regrets and sorrow

This poem is based on #journalingprompt 'What would you do if you knew you had one day left to live?' The next poems in this series are What After Death? and  Another Life? . 

Death

Death comes like an uninvited

Cold blooded guest

Who find chilly nights and hot sunny days alike

 Some embraces him with joy

Some reluctantly leaves with him

Some are dragged down with no mercy

Some are lucky to get rid of his hold,but not for long

He is a guide,tormentor,messenger

With no attachment or feelings for any

Just comes to carry out a task

Always so focused about the task

So particular not to miss out even one

Keeps high standards with high efficiency

He tries to tempt one with lucrative offer

That could lift one towards a higher world

Presents the dreamy world of heaven

Just like a kid’s fairy tale

Convinces with with the assurance

That there won’t be any pain and suffering

There will be only luxury comfort

With angels and saints helping out

There will be only smiles all around

He never tells the fact

About a hell that stand beside heaven

Where there is only pain and suffering

With devils and demons rule with terror

There is only tears all the time

With no place to escape or to hide

From the tortue that awaits

And no saviors to save the day

He just bribes one to part ways with life

To leave all beloved once forever

Without any chance to return to earth

To care or enquire about loved ones

As only soul will get the visa

One has to say good bye to body

Just like parting with a baggage

More of a  contract of no return

No time given to fulfil any wish

No time given to exchange final goodwill

No time given to smile or cry

Once the visa is ready

The journey starts

As the guide greets with welcome

The air starts to move away

Lungs drive itself to the limits

To suck the vanishing air

In a last gasp attempt to breath

In a last gasp attempt to survive

Just as heart tries its best

To beat the betrayal of the soul

By sending the final power to the lungs

As the soul starts following the guide

Poor body struggle to fight back

Air keeps moving away faster

Body tries its best to catch some air

It shivers and jumps

Vibrates with ferocity as if it’s now or never

As the soul moves farther

Helpless body surrenders

With the eyes capturing its final images

Closes the lid on a world

That gave joy and pain

Memories and nightmares

Regrets and pride

Soul follows the guide

Breaking all the bonds of love and hate

With hopes about a new world

Heaven or hell which it doesn’t know

It’s another task finished for a task master

Death!

Life After Death

It still remains a mystery,

what i saw in my dream

someone put me on a highway

I saw heaven on one side

I saw hell on other side

I kept guessing

where am I heading for?

The path looked so long

and there was no entrance

on either side to get in

But i saw,a few walking

in front of me

And i saw a few following me

in search of their destiny

 Is this life after death?

Is heaven a home to live?

Is hell a destitution center?

I saw the angels flying

in the heaven

Spreading love and peace

to all the happy faces

I saw my loved ones

waving me to get in

I saw the devils screaming

in the dens of hell

spreading terror and pain

to all those tear filled eyes

I saw my loved ones

asking for help to escape

I don't know where i should go

How can i forget the love

all those gave,when they were alive !

But, do i have a choice for myself ?

Awaiting death and life

With hopes one goes to hospital

To have the beloved recover

And ,raise back to the glory of life

Not always there is luck backing up

Some times doctors have to spell

Harsh facts that no one likes to hear

Even with the advanced care and technology

Hearing the words that chances are low

Any thing can happen, be prepared

Or we can’t tell anything until some hours

Hope for the best, and let relatives informed

Looking through the glass

At someone gasping for life in a ventilator

It stops the emotions for a while

All that comes to mind will be

The good and bad memories of the past

The anxiety of the worst fear grips the eyes with tears

Trembling lips immerses itself with prayers

Hoping that god will lend a respite

Sitting outside the ICU

Worried about the outcomes

Thoughts about future looms with never felt anxiety

When days pass some relief of survival arises

Yet the fear refuses to depart

It’s a wait for a life and death

Minutes passes as slow as ever it could be

Every passing moment reminds of some landmark

Wishing all the way down inside the heart

Not to receive news of liberation of a soul

Waiting with a tired body and a weakened mind

To receive a good news of recovery

When ever a doctor or nurse comes out

Wakes up and runs like a kid with curiosity

Just for asking if any improvement is there in condition

Even if the knowledge of the condition is fresh in mind

Every time while looking through the glass panel of ICU

Sharpens to see if there is any positive move

When goes inside the ICU always heart pounds

Even if the condition is getting better

While seeing others suffer around the loved one

Only when some words are minced

The cheers of new hope arises in the mind

Yet the chances are always there to go wrong any second

It’s like walking through a tight rope

With cushions on one side for safe landing

And a trench awaiting a journey towards eternity

ICU seems like a heaven with a door to hell always opened

And those who serves there are life savers

More of angels sent by the god to enlighten the hopes

it’s a fact that they gives their best

But its not in their hands, always an element of luck plays the game

Miracles happens, so does disasters

Sleepless nights and tiring days never deters

The love for someone who is fighting for the life

Only visual that keeps one awake is the image

Of loved one walking out of that heaven with a smile

Some times the very thought of coffin coming out

Reminds the route to hell and endless tears follows

Dreams and nightmares mars the wait for that life and death

A wait that all not want to have in their life

 Nithin R S

Port of New Hope

One day i will be there

To see you my dream, in real

I waited for a long time

To start this journey of my lifetime

I saw you everyday in my mind

I wished only one thing

To be there, to see you once

Then to be with you forever

Time is running out

Seasons moving out in haste

Every day that passed away

Reminded me about you

That I am so far away from you

It always haunted me like hell

Now my wait is over

I have drawn my path on the map

To be there at the shortest time

To embrace you my love

Then to build a life together

Over the blocks of the past

With the hopes for future as pillars

Once I am there

I could see your smile

I could feel the pressure of moving ahead

I always thought why I am waiting

When the destiny is calling me

To be there at the place of yours

Where all the pleasure I want is waiting

But the lazy thoughts hold me back for long

Its not the fear, more of the curiosity

That wired me up to this land

Now my eyes see you only

My words talks about you only

Imagining about the first meeting

Working out on the things to say

Planning the places to explore

Now the distance means nothing

I feel that you are closer than ever before

Awaiting my arrival at the Port of New Hope